Preview:Namibia vs. Burundi - prediction, team news, lineups

The Orlando Stadium plays host to Namibia and Burundi on Saturday as the sides face off in their opening 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Drawn in Group C of the qualifying campaign, the teams are joined by Cameroon and Kenya in the battle to book a place in Ivory Coast next year.

Match preview

Off the back of a 1-0 defeat versus Togo in their final involvement of 2021, Namibia will take to the field for the first time since the turn of the year.

Meme Placca's strike in the dying embers of the aforementioned game was enough to decide a dead rubber World Cup qualifying contest in Johannesburg

Consequently, Bobby Samaria's men have now been beaten for the third time in four matches and still boast just one win from their last eight outings.

The Brave Warriors are in need of a pick-me-up as they kick off their quest to reach the AFCON finals for the first time since the 2019 edition in Egypt.

Standing in the way is an opposing outfit with little to choose between the sides, are the previous two meetings have yielded 3-1 victories for either team.

Burundi claimed a 2-1 victory over the Lone Stars of Liberia in their most recent fixture, which was a friendly on March 29 at the Mardan Sports Complex.

A first-half brace from Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana put Jimmy Ndayizeye's men in the driving seat before Divine Teah halved the deficit in the early exchanges of the second period.

Les Hirondelles have now snapped a run of five games without a win and will be looking to pick up where they left off during the last international break.

Still in search of their maiden appearance at Africa's biggest football showpiece, Saturday's visitors set out to kick off their qualification journey on a positive note.

Team News

Petrus Shitembi is back in action for Namibia after the midfielder spent a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a knee injury.

Peter Shalulile has scored each of his nation's last two goals, and the 28-year-old is definitely one to look out for this weekend.

Meanwhile, Tiberius Lombard and Manfred Starke will not play any part for the hosts as they are both unavailable due to personal reasons.

Off the back of a brace in his last international outing, Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana will be looking to deliver the goods once again.

Youssouf Ndayishimiye has not featured in any game since late March, and the 23-year-old remains out of contention for Burundi.

Namibia possible starting lineup:

Kazapua; Nyambe, Haoseb, Hambira, Gebhardt; Handura, Shitembi, Papama; Shalulile, Kambindu, Kamatuka

Burundi possible starting lineup:

Nahimana; Nihorimbere, Moussa, Ndizeye, Ramazani; Nduwarugira, Bigirimana, Nzigamasabo; Amissi, Bimenyimana, Liongola

We say: Namibia 1-0 Burundi

Burundi have failed to score in four of their last five matches, and we can see their attacking woes continuing this weekend. Namibia, on the other hand, have not been spectacular in front of goal, but we tip them to get on the scoresheet and emerge victorious, albeit by only a narrow margin.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.