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Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Brave Gladiators

Also known as: Namibia's Brave Gladiators · the Gladiators · the Brave Gladiators · Brave Gladiators of Namibia

Namibia's women's national football team that won the 2025 COSAFA Women's Championship, defeating South Africa 2-1 in the final.

2023-10-062026-07-23

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. March 2026
  2. Informanté

    the team achieved a historic win over Zambia earlier in the tournament

    Source

    She also highlighted the team's historic win over Zambia earlier in the tournament, adding that it reflected the steady progress of Namibian football and the growing competitiveness of the country's sports sector.

    Nandi-Ndaitwah celebrates Gladiators’ historic COSAFA win
  3. New Era

    Brave Gladiators achieved historic victory over South Africa in Cosafa Women's Championship

    Source

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah extended heartfelt congratulations to the Brave Gladiators following their historic victory over South Africa in the Cosafa Women's Championship in Polokwane, South Africa, on Sunday.

    NNN hails Gladiators’ historic triumph
  4. New Era

    Brave Gladiators achieved 2–1 victory over South Africa in Cosafa Women's Championship final

    Source

    Brave Gladiators star Zenatha Coleman has announced that she will no longer participate in future Cosafa Women's Championship tournaments following Namibia's 2–1 victory over South Africa women's national football team in Sunday's final.

    Coleman retires from Cosafa …  Gladiators celebrate historic triumph
  5. The Namibian

    Brave Gladiators secured 2-1 win against Banyana Banyana in Cosafa Women's Championship final

    Source

    The Brave Gladiators secured a 2-1 win.

    President Nandi-Ndaitwah congratulates Brave Gladiators on historic Cosafa triumph
  6. Informanté

    Brave Gladiators have been crowned 2026 COSAFA Cup champions

    Source

    The Brave Gladiators have been crowned the 2026 COSAFA Cup champions after defeating South Africa 2–1 in the final of the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women's Championship in Polokwane.

    Brave Gladiators secure historic COSAFA victory
  7. Informanté

    Brave Gladiators defeated South Africa 2–1 in the final

    Source

    The Brave Gladiators have been crowned the 2026 COSAFA Cup champions after defeating South Africa 2–1 in the final of the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women's Championship in Polokwane.

    Brave Gladiators secure historic COSAFA victory
  8. The Namibian

    Brave Gladiators won the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women's Championship 2026

    Source

    Namibia's Brave Gladiators football team made history on Sunday by winning the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women's Championship 2026 at Polokwane in South Africa.

    Namibia's Brave Gladiators are Cosafa Cup champions
  9. The Namibian

    Brave Gladiators beat South Africa's Banyana Banyana 2-1 in the final

    Source

    They Brave Gladiators beat South Africa's Banyana Banyana 2-1 in the final at Peter Mokaba Stadium, ending a 20-year wait for Namibia to lift the trophy.

    Namibia's Brave Gladiators are Cosafa Cup champions
  10. February 2026
  11. Informanté

    Brave Gladiators reached COSAFA Women's Championship final for the first time

    Source

    NAMIBIA'S women's national football team, the Brave Gladiators, have made history by reaching the COSAFA Women's Championship final for the first time.

    Historic win for Namibia as Brave Gladiators reach COSAFA final
  12. Informanté

    Brave Gladiators secured their place in the final with a 1-0 victory over Zambia

    Source

    The Gladiators secured their place in the final with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia.

    Historic win for Namibia as Brave Gladiators reach COSAFA final
Sport

Stella Williams retires from Mighty Gunners Ladies at 48

The News

Veteran forward Stella Williams has retired from football after a career marked by leadership and passion for the game. Her final playing chapter was with Mighty Gunners Ladies FC, where she guided younger players and provided stability to the team.

16 July 2026 · New Era

Thursday 16 July

  1. Stella Williams retires from Mighty Gunners Ladies at 48

    Veteran forward Stella Williams has retired from football after a career marked by leadership and passion for the game. Her final playing chapter was with Mighty Gunners Ladies FC, where she guided younger players and provided stability to the team.

    16 July 2026 · New Era

Friday 10 July

  1. Unam Bokkies coach Sibanda steps down after seven years

    Thuba Sibanda has ended her tenure as head coach of Unam Bokkies after seven years, during which she focused on player development, professionalism, and youth structures, helping the team establish itself as a consistent force in the FNB Women Super League.

    10 July 2026 · New Era

Friday 5 June

  1. Brave Gladiators captain recognised for community sports outreach

    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

Monday 20 April

  1. Gunners defeat Desert Foxes 7-1 in women's league

    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

Wednesday 1 April

  1. Telecom Namibia rewards Brave Gladiators with 30 smartphones

    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

Monday 23 March

  1. Football legends assess Namibia's sport progress since 1990

    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

Friday 20 March

  1. Women in Namibian sport: progress and persistent challenges

    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

Thursday 12 March

  1. Lydiana Nanamûs builds football legacy as fearless defender

    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

Wednesday 11 March

  1. Namibia wins Cosafa Women's Football Championship

    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

  2. President marks Women's Day with reflections on equality progress

    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

  3. President hosts De Beers, political parties, sports champions

    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

Tuesday 10 March

  1. MTC HopSol Youth League resumes for tenth anniversary season

    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

  2. Namibia's women's football rise from grassroots to regional champions

    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

  3. Nandi-Ndaitwah highlights women's progress in aviation

    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

Sunday 8 March

  1. Minister hails women's advances in Namibian justice sector

    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

  2. Brave Gladiators receive N$500,000 award for COSAFA victory

    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

Friday 6 March

  1. MTC awards N$300,000 to Brave Gladiators football team

    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

  2. MTC rewards Brave Gladiators N$300,000 for Cosafa Championship victory

    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

Wednesday 4 March

  1. President welcomes women's football team home as national champions

    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

  2. Namibia's women's soccer team honoured for Cosafa Championship victory

    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

  3. Brave Gladiators eligible for rewards under sport policy

    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

  4. Namibia's Brave Gladiators celebrated after historic Cosafa championship

    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

  5. Namibia's women's football team wins historic COSAFA championship

    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

Tuesday 3 March

  1. President congratulates Brave Gladiators on Cosafa Championship win

    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

  2. Zenatha Coleman retires from regional football after Cosafa triumph

    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

Monday 2 March

  1. Namibia women's football team wins Cosafa championship

    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

  2. Namibia's Brave Gladiators win historic COSAFA Women's Cup

    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

  3. Namibia wins first Cosafa Cup in twenty years

    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

Saturday 28 February

  1. Namibia's Brave Gladiators reach COSAFA final for first time

    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

  2. Namibia advances to Cosafa Women's Championship final

    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

Brave Gladiators — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute