Monday 10 June 2013
Namibia’s camp in disarray, as coach quits over threat to life
June 11,2013
NAMIBIA Coach, Roger Palmgren, has quit his position barely 48 hours to the Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier against the Super Eagles, saying he fears for the safety of his family after receiving death threats.
“The President of the Namibia Football Association (NFA) John Muinjo hereby announces the resignation of the Brave Warriors’ Head Coach, Roger Palmgren, who tendered his resignation with immediate effect this weekend due to serious threats directed towards him and his family, as stated in his resignation letter,” the NFA said in a statement.
Palmgren, who is just a month into the job, was unveiled as coach on May 2 and led the team to two 0-0 draws, in a friendly against Zambia and a World Cup qualifier in Malawi last week.
Namibia face African champions, Nigeria, in Windhoek in a qualifier Wednesday, with former Namibia midfielder, Ricardo Mannetti, placed in temporary charge of the side.
Namibia trail group leaders Nigeria by four points with two rounds of matches left.
Nigeria could take a huge step toward securing a place at the 2014 World Cup by beating Namibia away from home Wednesday.
Stephen Keshi’s side currently hold a two-point lead in CAF qualification Group F and, should they win in Windhoek, may only need to avoid defeat against second-placed Malawi in September to reach Brazil.
Nigeria has won just two of their four qualification games thus far, but also boast an unbeaten record during that period.
One of those victories came in their home meeting with Namibia, as a late goal from Ikechukwu Uche helped the hosts to three points back in June.
Namibia have won, drawn and lost in their three qualifying fixtures since then, and sit four points short of top spot in Group F as a result.
However, they could blow the group wide open with a victory against the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations champions, though they will need to add to the solitary goal they have scored thus far if they are to do so.
Although Nigeria is not exactly prolific, having scored four times across four fixtures, all of their goals have come from different scorers.
And they may need to spread the goals out again tomorrow, with Sunday Mba and Ahmed Musa the top scorers at international level in the current squad despite having both only notched five times.
Namibia are bidding to reach their first-ever World Cup finals, while Nigeria have been present on four occasions - including in South Africa in 2010.
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