The Gambia Scorpions will kick-off their assault on the 2012 African Nations Cup qualifiers against unknown Namibia in Banjul on the first weekend of September, and the southern Africa nation have intensified preparations for the tie with the naming of a 29-man provisional squad.

  The Brave Warriors coach Tom Saintfiet expressed disappointment with the team’s lack of game time after Namibia failed to secure a warm-up match during the FIFA-sanctioned international date for friendlies last week, but the Belgian tactician remains positive. "That is just one of those things, but I’m positive to do well and get a good result against Gambia away from home. "I’ve done some research on our opponents and statistics show that Gambia is a formidable force in African football, if the performance of their youth teams is anything to go by. Gambia played at the World Cup finals at under-17 and under-20 levels and cannot be taken lightly," said Saintfiet.

Ironically, Gambia are coached by fellow Belgian mentor, Paul Put, who boasts a remarkable record in his native land where he coached at club level. The West African country is ranked 12 places (103) above Namibia (115) on the FIFA rankings, but Coach Saintfiet is adamant his tried and tested guards have what it takes to overcome the Gambians in their backyard. "They have a very good coach in the shape of Paul Put and 25 of their playing personnel are playing their football in Europe, mostly in Scandinavian countries."

It will be the first meeting between the two nations and, while Namibia already made it to two African Nations Cup finals, in 1998 and 2008, Gambia are yet to test their mettle at the highest level of continental football. Saintfiet has called up a provisional squad of 29 players, which will be trimmed down to 18 after assessing the players’ fitness in the next fortnight before the team departs for Banjul.