Attacker Awilo returns to Brave Warriors

Willy ‘Awilo’ Stephanus is named in the Brave Warriors’ African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifiers preliminary squad, after ending his self-imposed exile from the national men’s football team.

The 33-year-old attacker returns after spending more than a year in the international wilderness, having divided opinion when he made himself unavailable for selection for the national team after being snubbed by substantive Brave Warriors head coach Collin Benjamin.

Stephanus has been prolific for national champions African Stars, leading to calls for his inclusion.

However, Benjamin has stuck to his guns and opted for younger players to complement captain Peter Shalulile as he rebuilds the Brave Warriors.

Stephanus gets an opportunity under stand-in co-head coaches John Sikerete and Leonard Namwandi, who will take charge of the upcoming pair of Chan clashes against the Likuena of Lesotho.

Should Stephanus make the cut for the Lesotho matches, he may force his way into Benjamin’s plans.

Namibia face Lesotho over two legs in the first round of qualifying, with the first clash set for Maseru between 25 and 27 October, and the return leg scheduled between 1 and 3 November in Johannesburg.

The preliminary squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers – Kamaijanda Ndisiro (African Stars), John Muronga (Eeshoke Chula Chula), Donald Boois (FC Ongos), Tomwell Damaseb (Mighty Gunners);

Defenders – Charles Hambira and Ngero Katua (both African Stars), Tuli Nashixwa (Tigers), Tusha Ikeinge (Khomas Nampol), Sergio Damaseb (Mighty Gunners), Gerson Paulus (Julinho Athletic), David Aingwafa and Kennedy Eib (both Eeshoke Chula Chula), Petrus Kamati (Namibian Correctional Service), Dominikus Narib (Okahandja United);

Midfielders – Lawrence Doeseb and Festus Petrus (both Eeshoke Chula Chula), Godwin Eiseb and Mbakondja Tjihikika (both African Stars), Ole Somseb (Tigers), Dwayne Kinda (Tigers), Wangu Gome and Simon Elago (Ongos), Sem Ndahangwapo (Blue Waters), Pollen Rooi and Quinton van Staden (both Young Brazilians), Paulus Amutenya (Unam), Motjari Kazondunge (Quiver), Nathanael Nakare (Julinho Athletic);

Forwards – Willy Stephanus and Paulus Aluhodi (both African Stars), Nani Fares Haidula, Marcelino George and Jackson Nangolo (all Eeshoke Chula Chula), Garland Kaengurova (Okahandja United), Nashiku Muyeka (Airborne FC), Barnand Horaseb (Mighty Gunners).