Namibia is getting ready to compete in their fourth TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations after arriving safely in Korhogo, Cote d’Ivoire.

Head coach Collin Benjamin, a former player for the Brave Warriors, is the youngest of the 24 head coaches in Cote d’Ivoire going into the competition.

Benjamin, who was born in Windhoek forty-five years ago, had a very successful playing career in Germany, playing for teams like Hamburger SV and 1860 Munich before he took up coaching.

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Before taking over as head coach, the former defender, who played 41 games for the Brave Warriors and captained the club, served as the team’s assistant coach from 2018 to 2022.

Orlando Pirates utility player Deon Hotto praised Benjamin while speaking to CAFOnline from their base camp in Korhogo, stating that he is invigorating the team with new ideas and enthusiasm.

“He is one of the youngest and brightest coaches in the tournament.

” He played his whole career in Germany at the highest level and so he is sharing that experience with us.

“He is a very open coach.

“His door is always open for us. He is just a marvelous coach with new and fresh ideas and someone who is really great to work with”, said Hotto.

The Brave Warriors are drawn into an intriguing Group E that includes neighbours South Africa, Tunisia, the 2004 champions, and Mali, who is predicted to have the greatest support due to its location on the border of Korhogo.

With three prior trips ending in the group stages, Namibia enters the tournament as the underdog.

Benjamin and his Brave Warriors will be looking to reverse that in the Cote d’Ivoire edition this year.