Double blow for Namibia
Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile and Cape Town Spurs defender Lubeni Haukongo will miss Namibia’s World Cup assignments in Equatorial Guinea and Morocco over the next week after pulling out of the squad for the two Group H qualifiers.
Shalulile’s withdrawal comes despite playing a full 90 minutes for Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday as they won the African Football League and scoring in the 2-0 home victory over Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca in the second leg of the final.
Coach Collin Benjamin confirmed their absence as the team trained ahead of their opening tie in Malabo on Wednesday against Equatorial Guinea. They then go onto in Agadir, Morocco, where they will play against Sao Tome e Principe next Tuesday.
Shalilule scored the first goal as Sundowns beat Wydad 2-0 at Loftus Versfeld, showing no signs of any injury in the match.
Haukongo has a hamstring injury and was absent on Sunday when bottom placed Spurs lost away at Richards Bay in the DStv Premiership.
Of their South African-based contingent, Namibia can at least call upon Deon Hotto, fresh from derby success with Orlando Pirates, as well as goalkeeper Loyt Kazapua (Chippa United), defenders Ananias Gebhardt (Baroka) and Riaan Hanamub (AmaZulu) and strikers Joslin Kamatuka (Maritzbirg United) and Elmo Kambindu (Chippa United).
“These are important matches from a World Cup perspective, but they’re also important matches before we select our final squad for Afcon in the Ivory Coast,” said coach Benjamin.
“It’s going to be difficult, but we are trying to get our perfect squad for Afcon, so there’s a lot to play for, but at the same time, we also want to check a few variations.”
The match are their last competitive internationals before the Africa Cup of Nations
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