Deon Hotto earns Namibia recall for seventh AFCON qualifying campaign

Orlando Pirates veteran Deon Hotto has been retained by Namibia for the start of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, with his strong club form earning him international recognition shortly before his 36th birthday.

Namibia head coach Collin Benjamin has included Hotto in the Brave Warriors squad for a campaign that will see them face Cameroon, Comoros and Congo Brazzaville in Group G.

Namibia will begin their qualifying schedule against Congo on September 24 before meeting Comoros four days later, on September 28.

Hotto’s selection extends an international career that has now lasted 14 years. It will also mark his seventh qualifying campaign, underlining his continued importance to the national side and his exceptional longevity at the highest level.

His form for Orlando Pirates has been central to that decision. The versatile winger is entering his seventh season with the Buccaneers and has remained a regular despite being one of the more experienced players in the squad.

Since joining Pirates, Hotto has played in 257 of the club’s 283 matches. Almost all of those appearances have come since he turned 30, a record that demonstrates his ability to maintain high physical and performance standards well beyond the age at which many players begin to take on reduced roles.

Hotto has averaged 42 appearances per season and has been involved in 90% of Pirates’ match-day squads during his time at the club. That level of availability is rare in the PSL era and has made him a dependable figure for the South African side.

Pirates have the MTN8 in their sights as they pursue what would be their 10th trophy since Hotto arrived. He has featured in all 10 finals played by the club during that period, including the two defeats in the 2021/22 CAF Confederation Cup and the 2025 Nedbank Cup.

His consistency has also been evident in one of South African football’s biggest fixtures. Hotto has appeared in 16 consecutive Soweto derbies, the longest uninterrupted run of appearances by any Orlando Pirates player in the fixture during the PSL era.

Namibia will also have another of the PSL’s most experienced players available, with Peter Shalulile retained in the Brave Warriors squad.

The pair will now form part of a Namibia team attempting to negotiate a demanding Group G, with Cameroon, Comoros and Congo Brazzaville standing in the way of qualification for the 2027 AFCON. For Hotto, the campaign offers another opportunity to extend a remarkable international career while continuing to contribute at club level for Orlando Pirates.