Namibia welcome fellow Group D strugglers Tanzania in a late kick off on Saturday night with both teams yearning for their first win at the tournament.
The Brave Warriors started the campaign on a bad note after losing 3-0 to Guinea whereas Zambia walloped the Taifa Stars 2-0 last week.
But ahead of the match, Namibia coach Bobby Samaria remains optimistic that the Brave Warriors can emerge victorious from Limbe Omnisports Stadium.
“They lost 2-0 to Zambia and if we get a positive result against them, we have a chance going into our final game against Zambia. That is the message to the boys at the moment. It is still doable. We are still alive,” he said.
Samaria attributed the loss to Guinea to sloppy defending.
The Brave Warriors medical department says there are no major injury concerns ahead of the match.
“The only notable injuries are those of the Captain, Dynamo Fredericks who sustained a nasal impact during the match against Guinea and Charles Hambira with a medial cruciate ligament sprain, sustained during training,” Namibia Football Association website says.
Both players have since recovered and resumed training.
Namibia will bank on the inspiration of captain Fredrecks while Tanzania have been a blow following the injury of three players including towering skipper John Bocco.
Bocco has been ruled out alongside Erasto Nyoni and Ibrahim Ame.
Namibia conceded two first half goals due to individual errors to effectively end the contest and the coach takes the blame for it.
Namibia next plays Tanzania on Saturday 23 January and finish off group action on 27 January against Zambia.
Namibia will wrap up the group qualifiers by facing Zambia whereas Guinea and Tanzania will complete the show to see who makes it to the quarter-finals.
Both finals games are on January 27.
Probable line up for Namibia: Edward Maova, Ivan Kamberipa, Emilio Martin, Vitapi Ngaruka, Aprocious Petrus, Dynamo Fredericks, Lucky Heita, Absalom Iimbondi, Obry Amseb, Marcell Papama, Elmo Kambindu
Coach: Bobby Samaria
Namibia: 4-2-3-1
Probable line up for Tanzania: Aishi Manula, Shomari Kapombe, Edwards Charles, Kalos Protus, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Baraka Mwajogoro, Yusuph Muhilu, Feisal Salum, Ditram Nchimbi, Lucak Kikoti, Ayubu Langa