[Namibian] Brave Warriors head coach Collin Benjamin has named a provisional squad for the upcoming Africa 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with key players expected to lead crucial matches.

Namibia looking to solidify World Cup hopes  African Football

Former Arsenal and Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice to give Gabon a crucial 2-1 win over Kenya in an African 2026 World Cup qualifier on Sunday. The 35-year-old, who now plays in the Saudi Pro League, struck after 16 and 52 minutes in front of a sell-out 15,000 crowd in Nairobi before Michael Olunga reduced arrears on 62 minutes. Securing maximum points took Gabon to 15 in Group F. Reigning African champions Ivory Coast have 13, Burundi seven, Kenya six, Gambia four and Seychelles none. Ivory Coast host Gambia on Monday and Burundi have home advantage over Seychelles on Tuesday in other matchday six fixtures. Barring a dramatic collapse by either team, Gabon and Ivory Coast, who meet in September, look set to battle for first place. The nine group winners automatically qualify for the expanded 48-nation World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. There could be a 10th African qualifier as the four best-ranked runners-up enter a mini-tournament. The winners advance to inter-continental play-offs offering two finals slots. Trailing Gabon by nine points with just four matches to play, Kenya are all but out of contention for a first appearance at the global showpiece. New coach Benni McCarthy, the former Manchester United assistant coach and star South Africa forward, can now concentrate on the African Nations Championship, which Kenya co-hosts in August. A couple of veterans combined to put Gabon ahead with Serbia-based 34-year-old Guelor Kanga crossing for unmarked Aubameyang to fire across goalkeeper Ian Otieno and into the net. Olunga threat Kenya captain Olunga was a constant threat and hit the post and headed another attempt wide before half-time in the first international hosted by Kenya since 2021. The Nyayo National Stadium did not meet FIFA standards, leaving the Harambee Stars to stage home fixtures in various countries, including neighbours Uganda. When Eric Ouma handled an Aubameyang shot, Gabon were awarded a penalty that the 2015 African Footballer of the Year calmly converted. Olunga scored his fourth goal of the World Cup campaign to bring Kenya back into contention. The Qatar-based forward tapped a low cross past goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba from close range. Both teams had chances in a lively finish, but there were no further goals and Gabon completed a double over Kenya, having won 2-1 in the first round. Elsewhere, Eswatini and Mauritius drew 3-3 in a clash of the lowest placed teams in Group D, which Cape Verde tops followed by Cameroon, Libya and Angola. Having scored only once in five qualifiers, Eswatini netted twice within 18 minutes of the kick-off, with Philani Mkhonto claiming both. Mauritius struck twice early in the second half through Lindsay Rose and Yannick Aristide, only for Mayibongwe Mabuza to put Eswatini ahead again. Emmanuel Vincent salvaged a point for Mauritius with an added-time equaliser in Mbombela. Eswatini played in the South African city because they lack a FIFA-approved venue. The post Aubameyang World Cup brace boosts Gabon and sinks Kenya appeared first on The Namibian.

GRAPHICS:FAZ

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Senior national football head coach Collin Benjamin has announced the final Brave Warriors squad for the upcoming Council of Southern African Football Association (COSAFA) tournament in South Africa.  The tournament will run from 4 to 15 June.  Namibia is in Group B with Angola, Malawi, and Lesotho.  Namibia’s first match is on Thursday against Angola, followed by a game against Malawi on Sunday and the final group match against Lesotho next Tuesday. Benjamin said the team aims to win the tournament and bring home a second trophy for the country.  He acknowledged the challenge, noting that other teams share the same goal, especially with African giant Morocco joining as a guest nation this year.  “There is always pressure to win; we want to go all the way, but that is not going to be easy, and we all know that. But the positivity about our group is that we have four teams, and that is good, as it guarantees us three games, but our opponents also want to win,” he said. Benjamin praised the organisers for developing the tournament over the years into a competitive event in southern Africa. He said most countries now take it seriously.  “In the past, some countries used to select their B teams to compete at the tournament. That has changed now, as most countries are looking at winning the tournament, while the tournament also provides a platform for teams to prepare for World Cup qualifying games later this year,” he added. The Brave Warriors squad travelling to South Africa are: Edward Maova, Jonas Matheus, Kamaijanda Ndjisiro, Charles Hambira, Josilin Kamatuka, Will Stephanus, Ivan Kamberipa, Moses Shidolo, Sisqo Haraseb, Ngero Katua, Vevangapi Mbuende, David Haingwafa, Tyrese Hikupembe, Kennedy Eib, Mbakondja Tjahikika, Paulus Amutenya, Leevi Alfeus, Penda Mongudhi, Bio Gurirrab, Wiseman Liswaniso Lifasi, Riwaldo Prins, and Bethuel Muzeu.

Namibian football has largely remained competitive in the last few decades, from the heady heights attained in 1997 and 1999 when they were Cosafa Cup runners-up, and in 1998 and 2008 when they shocked African football by reaching the African Nations Cup finals. They finally did win the regional crown in 2015 as coach Ricardo Mannetti’s side made a thrilling run to the final were worthy winners. They played six games in all, building momentum along the way before being crowned champions after beating Mozambique 2-0 in the final. They had hoped to win back-to-back titles in 2016, but lost in the quarterfinals to Botswana on penalties after a 1-1 draw. They did, however, go on to claim the Plate competition as they defeated Zambia 1-0 in the final. The Brave Warriors reached the Plate final again the following year but this time lost 1-0 to South Africa, and then were beaten heavily 4-1 by the same opposition in the Plate semifinals in 2018. They started in the group stages in 2019, but could not advance to the quarterfinals despite winning two of their three pool games, which is usually enough. In 2022 they entered in the quarterfinals and reached the decider again, but lost 1-0 to Zambia after extra-time. In 2023 went out in the pool stages, but were back in the final in 2024, where they lost 5-0 to Angola. In 2008, Namibia broke a run of seven first round exits in the Cosafa Cup – when they lost to Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Eswatini, Angola and Botswana three times – as they progressed to the quarterfinals before losing out to a South African President’s XI. They also managed to claim their first away win in the competition in 2007 when they beat Lesotho to third place in the group stages in Gaborone. They followed that up in 2008 with away wins against the Comoros Islands and Malawi. The Brave Warriors were the surprise package of the 1997 edition, finishing second to winners Zambia and in 1998 caused a major upset by knocking out World Cup finalists South Africa at the preliminary round stage. In 1999, they were again in the final, and narrowly lost to Angola in extra-time in the second leg in Windhoek. – Cosafa.com  The post Namibia’s history at Cosafa Cup  appeared first on The Namibian.

PICTURE CREDIT: FAZ MEDIA

CREDIT:FAZ/CAF

Junior Yellow Greens Suffer Defeat to Namibia  Voice of Nigeria

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