The Brave Warriors will be making their AFCON 2024 appearance in Ivory Coast this month. They had previously featured in the 1998, 2008 and 2019 editions.
This is all you need to know about Namibia ahead of AFCON 2024.
This year's competition is officially named AFCON 2023 since it was initially scheduled to take place last year but was postponed until January-February 2024.
Namibia AFCON 2024 schedule
Namibia were alongside South Africa, Tunisia and Mali in Group E.
The Brave Warriors will play their first two group games at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, while the third match will take place at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pédro.
16 January 6pm: Tunisia – Namibia, Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium
21 January 9pm: South Africa – Namibia, Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium
24 January 6pm: Namibia – Mali, Stade Laurent Pokou
How did Namibia qualify for AFCON 2024?
Namibia were pitched against Cameroon, Kenya and Burundi. Following Kenya’s withdrawal from the qualifiers, the group was left with three teams and Namibia secured qualification by placing second behind Cameroon.
The Brave Warriors accumulated five points with a win, two drawn games and a defeat.
- Day 1: Namibia-Burundi (1-1)
- Day 2: Kenya-Namibia (cancelled)
- Day 3: Cameroon-Namibia (1-1)
- Day 4: Namibia-Cameroon (2-1)
- Day 5: Burundi-Namibia (3-2)
- Day 6: Namibia-Kenya (cancelled)
Namibia’s last 10 games before AFCON 2024
The Brave Warriors have won only two of their last 10 games. They’ve lost four and have recorded four draws.
- Sao Tome and Principe-Namibia (0-2) – 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
- Equatorial Guinea-Namibia (1-0) – 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
- South Africa-Namibia (0-0) – Friendly
- Namibia-Botswana (0-0) – Cosafa Cup
- Namibia-Eswatini (1-2) – Cosafa Cup
- South Africa-Namibia (1-1) – Cosafa Cup
- Burundi-Namibia (3-2) – CAN 2023 Qualifiers
- Namibia-Cameroon (2-1) – CAN 2023 Qualifiers
- Cameroon-Namibia (1-1) – CAN 2023 Qualifiers
- Namibia-Zambia (0-1) – Cosafa Cup Final
Namibia's history at AFCON has been characterised by resilience and challenges, as they have made only three appearances since their debut in 1998. Despite their efforts, they have experienced early exits in each tournament, finishing at the bottom of their groups.
In their debut in 1998, they showed promise with a draw against Angola, but subsequent losses to Ivory Coast and South Africa left them at the bottom of the group. A decade later in 2008, Namibia returned, aiming for improvement. However, losses to Morocco and Ghana, along with a draw against Guinea, led to another early exit.
In the most recent AFCON, the Brave Warriors faced familiar opponents – Morocco, South Africa, and Ivory Coast – and suffered defeats in each group stage match, marking their poorest performance. As they gear up to face Tunisia, Mali, and South Africa, the Brave Warriors are determined to make a new chapter in their AFCON history.
Advancing beyond the group stage has become their rallying call, with supporters optimistic about a potential turning point in this tournament.
Convincing results like the four points gained from a maximum six at the expense of Cameroon and a recent draw earned against South Africa stirs hope. Namibia’s squad blends experience and determination, ready to tackle the formidable challenges ahead.
Namibia coach: Colin Benjamin
Transitioning from assistant coach to head coach in 2022, Benjamin’s leadership and experience aim to guide Namibia through the challenges and maximize the squad’s potential. As a former footballer himself, Benjamin will have to share with his players in their quest to etch their names in the country’s folklore.
Player to watch: Peter Shalulile
Namibia’s current top scorer with 16 goals in 49 matches, Shalulile’s goal-scoring prowess and experience make him a critical asset. At 30, the Mamelodi Sundowns attacker has scored 11 goals in 16 games, heading into the tournament with superb form. He can wreak havoc when given a metre of space.
Namibia’s AFCON 2024 preparations
The Brave Warriors camped in Ghana and played a friendly with Legon Cities, a Ghanaian Premier League club before the tournament. They also engaged the Black Stars of Ghana in their last friendly before departing for Ivory Coast on 8 January.
Namibia's AFCON 2024 squad
Goalkeepers
Loydt Kazapua, Kamaijanda Ndisiro, Edward Maova
Defenders
Ananias Gebhardt, Ryan Nyambe, Riaan Hanamub, Kennedy Amutenya, Denzil Haoseb, Charles Hambira, Aprocious Petrus, Ivan Kamberipa, Lubeni Haukongo
Midfielders
Ngero Katua, Marcel Papama, Petrus Shitembi, Prins Tjiueza and Uetuuru Kambato
Forwards
Wendell Rudath, Absalom Iimbondi, Peter Shalulile, Deon Hotto, Joslin Kamatuka Bethuel Muzeu.
