Ryan Nyambe admits he will have to adapt to life back in Namibia - including learning the national anthem - after committing his international future to the country of his birth.

Nyambe is currently in Namibia and has met with national team boss Ricardo Mannetti ahead of their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

Nyambe moved to England at the age of 10, joining Rovers four years later, and has gone on to become a first team regular in the last three seasons.

The 21-year-old, born in Katima Mulilo, is the first and only Namibian to play club football in England, but is yet to appear for his country at senior level.

Mannetti, and officials from Namibia, have tried to convince Nyambe to play for his country, and the full back has now committed to the Brave Warriors ahead of the tournament which is scheduled to take place in Egypt between June 21 and July 19.

“I was born in Namibia, and the opportunity to come home for any Namibian is too great to resist, hence I had to come. I am excited to be here,” Nyambe said.

“I have also been learning the national anthem as well, seeing that I left the country when I was very young.

“I have lived in England for most of my life, so I will have to learn more, going forward.”

Nyambe has taken his time to consider his international future, having first been offered a call-up by Namibia aged 17.

He has held many meetings with the national team boss, and did once again on his return to Namibia, and is looking forward to working more with Mannetti.

He told Namibian news outlet Zampa: “He seems like a nice guy, I like him already.

“He made so much effort to get me to make up my mind to play for the Brave Warriors.

“He has been in constant touch with me and my mother, and for a manager to do that by himself proves he was interested in me.”

Nyambe, who will miss Rovers’ pre-season training camp in Austria next month, is the only English-based player in the squad, and will provide an option as both a right back and centre half.

He watched the Standard Bank Top 8 cup final between Tigers and African Stars on Saturday, and is continuing to learn more about the Namibian game.

That will see him watch videos of the team playing and Nyambe, who has also applied for a Namibian passport, believes their underdog status will serve them well in this summer’s tournament.

Namibia have qualified for the African Cup of Nations, for the first time since 2008.

Their eight points from six games was enough to see them pip Mozambique to second place in Group K based on a better head to head record.

Ranked 113 in the world, they face a daunting prospect in Group D, coming up against Morocco (June 23), South Africa (June 28) and Ivory Coast (July 1).

The top two teams from the six groups will automatically qualify for the last 16, as will the four best third-placed teams.