Also known as: Namibia's Brave Gladiators · the Gladiators · the Brave Gladiators · Brave Gladiators of Namibia
Namibia's women's national football team, 2026 COSAFA Women's Championship winners defeating South Africa 2-1.
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The Namibian
Brave Gladiators are Cosafa women's champions
“A statement on Women Football Development's official Facebook page reads that Mulunga is the Cosafa women's champion, along with the Brave Gladiators.”
Brave Gladiators skipper scores community goalsNew Era
Brave Gladiators achieved historic triumph at the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women's Championship
“Telecom Namibia has rewarded the Brave Gladiators with 30 smartphones following their historic triumph at the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women's Championship.”
Telecom rewards Gladiators with smartphonesNew Era
Brave Gladiators achieved regional success
“Women's football has also grown significantly, with the national team, the Brave Gladiators, achieving regional success and the introduction of sponsored leagues for women.”
Women in sport: From participation to leadershipNew Era
Lydiana Nanamûs has 19 caps for the Brave Gladiators and 1 goal
“Nanamûs currently has 19 caps for the Brave Gladiators and 1 goal, and has previously played for The Little Pumpkins, Girls & Goals FC, and Tura Magic (now known as FC Ongos).”
Personality of the week – Nanamûs building a legacy in defenceNew Era
Brave Gladiators of Namibia defeated South Africa to win the Cosafa Women's Championship
“The Brave Gladiators of Namibia recently made history by defeating South Africa to win the Cosafa Women's Championship, marking a major milestone for women's football in the country.”
Cosafa Women’s ChampionsThe Namibian
Brave Gladiators won Cosafa Cup for first time for Namibia
“Recently we also celebrated the victory of the Brave Gladiators, the Namibian women's national soccer team, which won the Cosafa Cup for the first time for Namibia by both women's and men's teams.”
Remarks by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on International Women’s Day at Hosea Kutako International AirportNamibian Sun
Brave Gladiators won the 2025 COSAFA Women's Championship
“The President also welcomed the Brave Gladiators after they won the 2025 COSAFA Women's Championship.”
Photo PageNew Era
Brave Gladiators had some youth league players
“Some players also played for the Brave Warriors and Brave Gladiators.”
Youth league to resume this weekInformanté
Brave Gladiators won the COSAFA Women's Championship
“She further congratulated the national women's football team, the Brave Gladiators, on winning the COSAFA Women's Championship.”
Nandi-Ndaitwah highlights women in aviationThe Namibian
Brave Gladiators won the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations women's championships
“She added that women have also made excellent participation in sport, congratulating the Brave Gladiators on winning the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations women's championships.”
Minister Kantema applauds women’s leadership in justice sectorBrave Gladiators skipper Lovisa Mulunga has been recognised for her community outreach work inspiring youth through sport and education programmes in Windhoek, including the Riverheights Sports and Education Centre programme.
5 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Brave Gladiators skipper Lovisa Mulunga has been recognised for her community outreach work inspiring youth through sport and education programmes in Windhoek, including the Riverheights Sports and Education Centre programme.
5 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The FNB Women's Super League showcased competitive football this weekend in Windhoek, with NDF Mighty Gunners FC defeating Desert Foxes FC 7-1. Despite the victory, coach Salome Iyambo expressed disappointment with execution, stating the team did not follow game plan and must improve positional discipline and purposeful movement.
20 April 2026 · New Era →
Telecom Namibia has given the Brave Gladiators women's football team 30 smartphones worth approximately N$100,000 following their COSAFA Women's Championship victory, with the CEO citing the team's historic achievement and commitment to supporting women's sport in Namibia.
1 April 2026 · New Era →
As Namibia marked its 36th Independence Day, football legends offered mixed assessments of the sport's development: while some highlighted achievements like regional league decentralisation, women's football success, and Cosafa wins, others argued investment has been inadequate and called for stronger grassroots structures, more players in top foreign leagues, and improved stadium standards.
23 March 2026 · New Era →
Since independence in 1990, Namibia has increased women's participation in sport through policy reforms, stronger federations, and greater recognition of female athletes, but challenges remain in funding, infrastructure, and leadership representation. Former Olympic shooter Gaby Ahrens and football pioneer Jacqueline Gertze highlight progress in moving women from spectators to competitive athletes and leaders, while noting the need for mandatory board representation, improved media visibility, and greater support for grassroots development.
20 March 2026 · New Era →
Windhoek City Sporting Club defender and senior women's national team player Lydiana Nanamûs has built a career from joining The Little Pumpkins girls' football team at the Bernhard Nordkamp Centre in 2009, becoming a two-time FNB Women's Super League champion and 2024 PstBet NFA Cup Player of the Tournament. A central defender known for her leadership and resilience, she holds 19 caps for the national team and credits her success to coaches, teammates, and the impact she has on young girls who look up to her.
12 March 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's Brave Gladiators defeated South Africa to win the Cosafa Women's Championship, marking a major milestone for women's football in the country.
11 March 2026 · New Era →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah delivered remarks on International Women's Day highlighting Namibia's strides in women's emancipation, including the recent swearing-in of the first female Supreme Court judge and the women's national soccer team's Cosafa Cup victory. She also commended an all-female Ethiopian Airlines crew, noting that women now lead nations, advance science and shape industries in ways once unimaginable.
11 March 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah met with multiple delegations at State House over the past week, including a De Beers delegation led by CEO Al Cook, the PDM party led by McHenry Venaani, NEFF and Nudo delegations, the Brave Gladiators after their 2025 COSAFA Women's Championship victory, and Namibia International Energy Conference founder Selma Shimutwikeni.
11 March 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The 2026 MTC HopSol Youth League will commence on Thursday, marking its 10th anniversary with 115 teams expected to participate. The league, which has grown from 800 players in its first year to over 2,000 last year, aims to develop youth talent and has produced players who have progressed to the Premier League, tertiary institutions, and the national teams.
10 March 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's Brave Gladiators' Cosafa Championship victory in March was built on decades of grassroots development through the NFA's Galz & Goals programme, which gave young girls safe spaces and structured competition, supported by Unicef and later sponsorship from Skorpion Zinc Mine and FNB Namibia. Captain Lovisa Mulunga credited the pathway from community fields to the FNB Women's Super League for developing the team that won the trophy, though she noted women's football still requires more sponsors to sustain progress.
10 March 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah joined Ethiopian Airlines at Hosea Kutako International Airport to commemorate the airline's 80th anniversary and celebrate International Women's Day, highlighting women's growing role in aviation and progress toward gender equality. She pointed to Namibia's milestones including female leadership in government and sectors such as medicine, engineering and aviation, and noted that an all-female Ethiopian Airlines crew arrival sends a powerful message to young girls about career opportunities.
10 March 2026 · Informanté →
Gender Equality Minister Emma Kantema has praised the growing presence of women in Namibia's judiciary, noting recent milestones including the appointment of the first permanent woman judge to the Supreme Court and increased representation of women judges and magistrates. She acknowledged these achievements as evidence of women's capacity to lead at the highest levels while also flagging safety concerns for female judicial officers, referencing the 2025 death of prosecutor Justine Shiweda.
8 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Brave Gladiators women's football team have been awarded N$500,000, with an additional N$150,000 for coaching staff, following their historic COSAFA Women's Championship victory. Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp announced the award at a recognition ceremony, calling the win a milestone for Namibian women's sport and pledging continued government support for football development.
8 March 2026 · Informanté →
Telecommunications company MTC rewarded Namibia's national women's football team with N$300 000 following their triumph at the Cosafa Women's Cup, with each player and technical team member receiving N$10 000. Officials emphasised the importance of corporate partnerships in strengthening women's football and called for continued private-sector support.
6 March 2026 · New Era →
Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) has announced N$300,000 to be shared among players and technical staff of the Brave Gladiators following their 2-1 defeat of South Africa to win the 2025 Cosafa Women's Championship. Corporate sponsors and government officials have called for professionalization of women's football and greater corporate investment in the sport.
6 March 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah welcomed the Brave Gladiators women's football team home after their historic victory over South Africa's Banyana Banyana in the Cosafa Women's Championship, and their first-ever senior-level win over Zambia. The President highlighted the team's professionalism and conduct as ambassadors for Namibia, and called for investment in sports infrastructure and facilities to sustain such sporting excellence.
4 March 2026 · The Namibian →
President Nandi-Ndaitwah welcomed the Brave Gladiators home after they won the Cosafa Women's Championship in South Africa, crediting their success to sustained investment in sport and years of commitment by players, coaches and administrators. The President said the government will strengthen sports development by building modern, accessible stadiums and facilities across regions to ensure all young Namibians can train and compete.
4 March 2026 · New Era →
The Brave Gladiators' Cosafa Women's Championship victory qualifies them for monetary rewards under Namibia's National Sport Reward Policy, though the specific Cosafa competition lacks a defined reward category in the current policy structure.
4 March 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's women's football team made history by beating South Africa 2-1 to win the Cosafa Women's Championship for the first time, and were welcomed home as heroes with an official reception at State House where President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah praised their achievement as a defining national moment and called for continued investment in sports infrastructure across the country.
4 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Brave Gladiators won the 2026 COSAFA Women's Championship by defeating South Africa 2–1 in the final. President Nandi-Ndaitwah hosted the team at State House to honour their victory, describing it as a defining moment in Namibia's sporting history and commending their discipline, commitment and professionalism.
4 March 2026 · Informanté →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah praised the Brave Gladiators for their historic victory over South Africa in the Cosafa Women's Championship, calling the achievement a testament to perseverance and describing sport as an investment in youth and national pride.
3 March 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's Brave Gladiators won the Cosafa Women's Championship with a 2–1 victory over South Africa on Sunday, with star player Zenatha Coleman named Player of the Tournament. Coleman, 31, announced her retirement from Cosafa competitions but will continue representing Namibia in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, while defender Emma Naris also retired after 15 years with the national team.
3 March 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's women's national football team defeated South Africa 2-1 in the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women's Championship 2026 final in Polokwane, securing the country's first-ever victory over South Africa in the competition. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah congratulated the Brave Gladiators, describing the achievement as a testament to perseverance and an investment in youth development and national pride.
2 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's women's football team defeated South Africa 2–1 in the final of the 2026 COSAFA Women's Championship in Polokwane to claim their first regional title. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah congratulated the squad on their achievement, citing the victory as testament to perseverance and discipline, and highlighting sport's role in youth empowerment and national development.
2 March 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's women's football team won the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women's Championship 2026, defeating South Africa's Banyana Banyana 2-1 in the final at Polokwane, ending a 20-year wait for the trophy. Goals from Muhinatjo Hanavi and Memory Ngonda secured the victory after South Africa scored first.
2 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's women's national football team made history by reaching the COSAFA Women's Championship final for the first time, defeating Zambia 1-0 with a goal from Juliana Blou in the 89th minute.
28 February 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia defeated defending champions Zambia 1-0 in the semi-final, with Juliana Blou scoring in injury time to send the Brave Gladiators to their first final in 20 years. They will face hosts South Africa, who beat Zimbabwe 4-2 on penalties, in the final on Sunday.
28 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Brave Gladiators advanced to the semi-final of the Cosafa Women's Championship by finishing Group C with a superior goal difference despite level points with Mozambique and Madagascar. Head coach Lucky Kakuva expressed confidence ahead of today's match against defending champions Zambia at 12h00.
27 February 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's Brave Gladiators qualified for the semi-finals of the Cosafa Women Championships and will face defending champions Zambia at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Namibia topped group C on goal difference after winning one and losing one match, while Zambia finished first in group B with seven points.
27 February 2026 · The Namibian →