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Namibia confident in group survival at AFCON qualifiers

Xinhua, April 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Namibia coach Ricardo Mannetti on Thursday showed his confidence in his team's group stage survival at the 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The Namibian football team, the Brave Warriors on Wednesday were placed in Group H with Senegal, Niger and Burundi.

Mannetti said that the draw for the 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers are fair given the quality of the opposition.

"I think the draw is quite okay. You will get a powerhouse and we got Senegal in our group and Niger and Burundi are not to be taken lightly as well. So it is football and you deal with what you have," said Mannetti.

Mannetti added that Senegal will be the group favourites but the Brave Warriors will be ready to make their mark.

"We have to respect Senegal as they are a force in African football but on the pitch it will be equal and whoever is better prepared and hungrier for a win than the other will take it. Playing them will be extra motivation for the players and we will be at our possible best," he said.

On Niger and Burundi, Mannetti said that those games will be equally important.

"We won't fear anyone in this group and so facing Niger and Burundi will be crucial for us to get all the points we can get home or away. We need to have all our best players at that time available and ready to fight for our place in Gabon next year," said Mannetti.

Qualifying for 2017 will begin in June with 52 of CAF's 54 member countries listed to take part. Endi