WINDHOEK, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's national football team were presented on Wednesday with sponsorship of close to 55,000 U.S. dollars by the Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) firm to help them qualify for the 2019 CAF African Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Namibian football association's website said.
Namdia said that bonuses would be retroactively and subsequently awarded for drawing and winning qualifying matches, as Namibia seek to qualify for Africa's main international football competition for a third time.
"Players will each receive 344 U.S. dollars for a draw and 687 U.S. dollars for a win, starting with the two Mozambique victories [earlier in October]," the website said.
Namdia CEO Kennedy Hamutenya said in a statement that the firm was inspired by the big prize of qualification for the AFCON finals, and called on players to remain focused and continue winning matches.
Namibia head coach Ricardo Mannetti also welcomed the gesture, as did the Namibia Football Association Secretary-General Barry Rukoro.
Namibia currently sit second in AFCON qualifying Group K and will host leaders Guinea-Bissau on November 17. The two teams are currently tied on seven points each, while Mozambique and Zambia have four points each with two matches left to play. The top two teams will qualify for the 2019 AFCON in Cameroon.
