Namibia and Zimbabwe will face off in a crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier at Orlando Stadium, with Namibia looking to rebound from two consecutive losses while Zimbabwe seeks its first victory. The match will be held behind closed doors at Namibia’s request, with fan attendance allowed in the return fixture. Both teams are adjusting their rosters due to injuries and player returns as they prepare for this significant encounter.
As the third round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers approaches, Namibia and Zimbabwe are set to compete in a crucial Group J match on Thursday afternoon at Orlando Stadium. The match is scheduled to commence at 3 PM Central Africa Time (CAT, GMT+2). Namibia has experienced a challenging start to their AFCON qualification campaign, suffering two consecutive losses against Cameroon and Kenya. Following their 2-1 setback against Kenya on September 10, Namibia now finds itself at the bottom of the group standings in fourth place. Conversely, Zimbabwe’s performance in the qualifiers has been marginally more successful, as they remain without a win after drawing both of their matches against Kenya and Cameroon, resulting in a third-place position in Group J, trailing behind the leaders Kenya and Cameroon by two points. In a recent statement, the Zimbabwean Football Association announced that the match will be played behind closed doors at the request of the Namibian team. All supporters have been advised not to attend Orlando Stadium for this fixture. However, the following match on Monday, October 14, will allow fans to attend. Regarding team rosters, the Zimbabwean squad will be without Tino Kadewere and Tawanda Chirewa due to injuries, though they will welcome the return of Khama Billiat, who has returned from international retirement. Captain Marvelous Nakamba is also expected to rejoin the team following his recovery from injury. Namibia, on the other hand, will field a squad heavily featuring talents from the Premier Soccer League, including Deon Hotto and Lloydt Kazapua among others. Historically, Namibia holds a favorable record against Zimbabwe, having won four of their last five encounters, with Zimbabwe’s last victory over Namibia dating back to 2017, when they secured a 1-0 win at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
This article focuses on the upcoming football match between Namibia and Zimbabwe as part of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers. It provides an overview of both teams’ current standings, their recent performance, and important match details such as the venue and kick-off time. The implications of the match, including team news and historical performance, are also discussed to provide context for the significance of the upcoming clash.
In summary, the match between Namibia and Zimbabwe is set to be a pivotal contest in the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers. With Namibia struggling after two losses and Zimbabwe drawing their matches, both teams seek a vital win. The behind-closed-doors nature of the game may add an unusual dynamic. Namibia has historically performed well against Zimbabwe, adding pressure on the Warriors to secure their first victory in the qualifiers.
Original Source: supersport.com
