NAMIBIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

President Ranga Haikali
Address
P.O. Box 1345
Windhoek
NAMIBIA
Website www.nfa.org.na
Established 1990
Affiliated to FIFA 1992
Affiliated to CAF 1992
Honours 2015 COSAFA Cup champions; 2016 COSAFA Plate winners

Namibia upset the formbook to qualify for the 2008 African Nations Cup finals, the second time the ‘Brave Warriors’ have managed to find themselves among the continent’s elite at its most prestigious tournament. Times have been tougher since, with a major rebuilding of the national team under way.

NAMIBIA COSAFA CUP HISTORY

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 2008, Namibia broke a run of seven first round exits in the COSAFA Cup – when they lost to Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Swaziland, 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 as the tournament moved to South Africa.

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 CUP RESULT RECORD

OVERALL RECORD