Orlando Pirates’ Deon Hotto to Miss Namibia Matches

Orlando Pirates left-back Deon Hotto will remain with the club during the upcoming FIFA calendar dates as he serves his suspension on the international stage.

Hotto has been left out of Namibia’s provisional squad for the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Liberia on October 9 and Tunisia on October 13. The Brave Warriors aim to finish as one of the four best group runners-up to advance to the CAF Play-Offs and potentially the Inter-Confederation Play-Offs.

The decision to omit Hotto comes after he received his second yellow card of the campaign in Namibia’s match against Sao Tome & Principe earlier this month. He had previously been cautioned against Equatorial Guinea. According to FIFA regulations, accumulating two yellow cards in the group stage results in a one-match suspension. Namibia’s FA ensured that the player would not face unnecessary disciplinary issues, avoiding errors similar to SAFA’s March incident with Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho.

Veteran left-footer Hotto, 34, has only missed two games for Namibia since March 2021. During this period, he has been a key figure at Orlando Pirates, demonstrating consistency and discipline, having maintained a clean record with cautions this season.

Since joining the Soweto giants, Hotto has been a mainstay in the MTN8, playing every match and helping the club secure five titles. Notably, he has played every minute in all MTN8 finals during his tenure, making him the only Pirates player to achieve this feat.

Hotto’s absence from the Namibia squad provides him a rare breather while allowing Pirates to retain a key defensive presence during the FIFA break. His experience and reliability continue to be vital for the Buccaneers as they aim for domestic success this season.