By Tapiwa Chawagarira
Scottland FC’s strong presence in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League has received further recognition, as midfielders Moses Shidolo and Stoffel Witbeen have been called up to the Namibia national team for the opening matches of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The two players are part of Brave Warriors coach Collin Benjamin’s squad, which is preparing for Group G assignments against Congo-Brazzaville and Comoros, giving the reigning Zimbabwean champions two representatives on the international stage.
According to the Namibia Football Association, Namibia will open their campaign against Congo in Gaborone on Thursday, September 24, before travelling to Comoros for the second fixture on Tuesday, September 29.
The call-ups underscore the growing contribution of Zimbabwe’s top-flight league to Namibia’s national team, with Scottland among four Zimbabwean clubs supplying players to the Brave Warriors squad.
Eight players from the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League were included in Namibia’s provisional selection, with Scottland contributing Shidolo and Witbeen. Simba Bhora provided three players, while Chicken Inn contributed two and MWOS one.
Shidolo is no stranger to the Namibian national team set-up and was also part of the Brave Warriors squad during their 2025 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. The midfielder has established himself as an important player at Scottland since joining the club.
For Witbeen, the latest call-up adds another chapter to his increasingly promising international career. The 24-year-old joined Scottland in July on a two-year contract from Okahandja United after an impressive spell in Namibia, during which he contributed seven goals and six assists across competitions.
His move to Zimbabwe was facilitated by performances that attracted Scottland’s attention, and he reportedly made an immediate impression during trials by scoring a hat-trick in a training match. Witbeen also credited Shidolo, with whom he had previously played in Botswana, for helping him settle at the club.
However, the Brave Warriors have had to make adjustments to their squad ahead of the qualifiers. The Namibia Football Association confirmed that several players have been ruled out due to injury or other logistical challenges, although Shidolo and Witbeen remain part of the preparations.
Namibia’s Group G campaign will be played on a home-and-away basis, with the top two teams in groups without an AFCON co-host qualifying for the finals. The 2027 tournament will be staged in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from June 19 to July 17 next year.
For Scottland, the international recognition of Shidolo and Witbeen comes at a significant stage of the domestic season, as the club continues to balance its PSL title ambitions with preparations for its first-ever CAF Champions League campaign.
The duo will now turn their attention from the domestic competition to the national team, carrying Scottland’s representation into Namibia’s bid for a place at the 2027 AFCON finals.
