Namibia have high hopes of impactful competition in Stellenbosch

Namibia will compete for the third year in a row at the CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier in Stellenbosch, South Africa from December 5–7, having been hosts of the competition in 2024.

They did not make it out of their pool in either the Boys’ or Girls’ competitions on home soil, but in 2023 were fourth-place finishers in both.

They first competed in the zonal qualifiers two years ago in Harare, Zimbabwe, having not been part of the inaugural year in Malawi.

They were handed a walkover win over Zambia in the Boys’ competition in Harare, before victories over Madagascar (2-0) and Angola (1-0), and a narrow 2-1 loss to South Africa.

That set up a bronze-medal match with hosts Zimbabwe, but they fell to a 1-0 scoreline.

It was the same in the Girls’ competition, where they also finished fourth.

Their walkover win over Zambia was followed by a 0-0 draw with Madagascar, victory over Angola (2-1) and a 3-0 loss to South Africa.

They met Mozambique in the bronze-medal game but fell 4-0 and could only match the Boys’ finish.

They were back on home soil in Walvis Bay in 2024, but this time found the going tougher.

In the Boys’ competition they lost their opener 6-0 to Malawi, before a 1-0 loss to Zambia. They finished on a high, though, with a 2-1 victory over Lesotho, but it was only enough for third place in their pool.

In the Girls’ competition they held Malawi to a 2-2 draw before they were handed a 3-0 walkover win against Zambia. That set up a winner-takes-all match-up for second place in the pool with Lesotho, but the latter won 1-0.

But it shows the potential of the team and there will be plenty of optimism they can be on the podium this time round.

The draw for this year’s 11-team tournament will be made a few days before the competition.

 

NAMIBIA’S PAST FINISHES
BOYS
2022: Did not enter
2023: Fourth
2024: Group Stage

GIRLS
2022: Did not enter
2023: Fourth
2024: Group Stage

NAMIBIA’S PAST RESULTS
BOYS
2023
Zambia 0-3 Namibia*
Madagascar 0-2 Namibia
South Africa 2-1 Namibia
Angola 0-1 Namibia
Zimbabwe 1-0 Namibia
*Awarded as a 3-0 walkover as Zambia were not present.

2024
Namibia 0-6 Malawi
Namibia 0-1 Zambia
Namibia 2-1 Lesotho

GIRLS
2023
Zambia 0-3 Namibia*
Madagascar 0-0 Namibia
South Africa 3-0 Namibia
Angola 1-2 Namibia
Mozambique 4-0 Namibia
*Awarded as a 3-0 walkover as Zambia were not present.

2024
Namibia 2-2 Malawi
Namibia 3-0 Zambia*
Namibia 0-1 Lesotho
*Awarded as a 3-0 walkover as Zambia were not present.