Ryan Nyambe says he is fully committed to Namibia – and had pledged his international allegiance even before their qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nyambe has been named in the provisional Brave Warriors squad for next month’s tournament and is expected to make the final 23-man list.

The 21-year-old is one of only two players based in Europe available to Namibia boss Ricardo Mannetti, though there were questions over Nyambe’s commitment, with news of him pledging allegiance to the country of his birth only made public in April.

However, Nyambe says he assured the coaching staff of his availability prior to the team’s dramatic qualification for just a third ever tournament in March.

The defender says his decision not to be involved in the qualifying matches was so he could focus on winning his place back in the Rovers side having lost it to Elliott Bennett following a difficult end to 2018 in terms of both form and fitness.

“I had assured the coach already that I’ll join the team once the season is over,” said Nyambe, who was born in Katima Mulilo and moved to England at the age of 10.

“I had told the coach that once everything was okay with me and the season is over, I’ll join the team.

“When I made that promise, the team had not qualified for Afcon. I was availing myself whether we had qualified for Afcon or not and I’m just happy that this is finally happening.

“When the opportunity first arose I had just returned from injury.

“I didn’t feel myself and my confidence was really low, so my focus was to get back into the Rovers side.”

Nyambe is set to make his competitive debut for the Brave Warriors at the Afcon, where Namibia were drawn in Group D alongside Morocco (June 23), South Africa (June 28) and Ivory Coast (July 1).

The Rovers Academy graduate is excited about the prospect of featuring in Egypt which will see him miss Rovers’ pre-season training camp in Austria.

“I’m very excited about it,” he told news outlet New Era.

“A big, big task and a big tournament, so I’m excited about the team. Afcon is a big tournament that shows what African players have got.”