Namibia’s Brave Warriors have been drawn in Group B alongside Zambia, Uganda and Ivory Coast for the African Nations Championship. The African Nations Championship is the Confederation of African Football’s nations cup version for home-based players, who otherwise always face stiff competition for places in their respective national teams. It is a vigorous competition during which players are always eager to impress. Namibia qualified for the event by beating Zimbabwe and Comoros over two legs, but the teams which Namibia have been paired with are tough. Ivory Coast is a household name in African football with top stars playing in the European leagues. The national team is currently being defended by Asec Momosas. The Elephants as they are also known are now set to participate in the CHAN finals for a fourth time, having hosted the first tournament in 2009. Uganda, another team that was drawn in group B, was deafeted by Rwanda in their last qualifying game by 2-0 in the second leg of their 2018 CAF African Nations Championships qualifying tie at Stade Régional de Nyamirambo in Kigali . Despite the victory, Rwanda failed to qualify for the 2018 CHAN thanks to a 3-2 aggregate score. Namibia might just fancy them as the weaker link. Zambia also had a stern test in South Africa but a brace from their young striker Justin Shonga ensured Wedson Nyirenda's side’s qualification for the tournament in Morocco. Since independence Namibia and Zambia have faced each other 16 times, with Namibia winning three times, drawing six times and losing seven games. Namibia was ousted by Zambia during 2015’s attempt to qualify for the Competition. Namibia then had just come out of a victory over Zambia in the Cosafa Cup where they had beaten Zambia as well. Coach Ricardo Manetti said in a statement on the NFA website that: “We were not going to get it any easier from pot four. I expected strong teams in our group and I’m not surprised and that still leaves us with the title of underdogs which suits me and the team. It’s our first time at the CHAN finals and we will take it one game at a time” Namibia will start their debut in the competition with a date with ivory Coast in Marrakech on the 14th January . Here is the full fraw Group A (Casablanca): Morocco, Guinea, Sudan, Mauritania Group B (Marrakech): Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia, Uganda, Namibia Group C (Tangier): Libya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea Group D (Agadir): Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Burkina Faso