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Monday, 7 September 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 7 September 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Confederation of African Football

Also known as: CAF

Confederation of African Football — continental body organizing inter-club competitions and setting standards for African football, led by president Patrice Motsepe.

2024-01-262026-09-07

What’s been said

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

  1. June 2026
  2. The Namibian

    Confederation of African Football named Omar Artan men's referee of the year in 2025

    Source

    Artan, who in 2025 was named men's referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football, would have been the first Somali to referee at a World Cup.

    White House World Cup chief defends visa ban for Somali referee, Iranians
  3. The Namibian

    Confederation of African Football (CAF) named Omar Artan men's referee of the year in 2025

    Source

    Artan, who in 2025 was named men's referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was barred from entering the US on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport.

    Somalia backs referee after he is denied entry to US
  4. Informanté

    Confederation of African Football (CAF) produced qualifiers with nine direct qualifiers and one play-off berth for 2026 World Cup

    Source

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) qualifiers produced a diverse field featuring continental heavyweights Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and South Africa, alongside debutants Cape Verde and returning Congo DR.

    African nations secure places at expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup
  5. May 2026
  6. The Namibian

    The Confederation of African Football controversially crowned Morocco champions after Senegal penalty incident

    Source

    Morocco were later controversially crowned champions by the Confederation of African Football, but the repercussions of defeat were still felt.

    Brazil’s World Cup challenge faces Morocco test in Group C
  7. The Namibian

    Confederation of African Football (CAF) has standards for category three stadiums

    Source

    This follows 13 months after the government announced plans to build and upgrade five stadiums across the country to Confederation of African Football (CAF) category three standards.

    Independence Stadium renovation set for July
  8. The Namibian

    Confederation of African Football will set out roadmap and inspections for infrastructure upgrade if considering a bidder

    Source

    A lot of the countries that bid before didn't have approved stadiums, even Kenya that is hosting Afcon next year is still busy constructing their stadium. So if CAF considers you, they will set out a roadmap and make inspections on your progress to upgrade your infrastructure.

    Namibia’s Afcon 2028 bid strengthened
  9. Informanté

    Confederation of African Football encouraged regional zones to collaborate in hosting major tournaments

    Source

    He said the initiative aligns with encouragement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for regional zones to collaborate in hosting major tournaments.

    Southern African nations submit joint bid to host 2028 AFCON, says COSAFA president
  10. New Era

    Confederation of African Football has certification requirements for Sam Nujoma Stadium upgrade in Windhoek

    Source

    Namibia highlighted ongoing efforts to upgrade the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek to meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) certification requirements, as well as future World Athletics track certification standards.

    Namibia, Botswana strengthen sport cooperation … through landmark BNSC-NSC engagement
  11. The Namibian

    Confederation of African Football held meetings with facility inspector for guidance on Independence Stadium standards

    Source

    Nandi-Ndaitwah said two consecutive meetings were held with the Confederation of African Football facility inspector for guidance.

    Sport facilities drive gathers pace
  12. April 2026
  13. The Namibian

    Confederation of African Football (CAF) unanimously agreed to support Infantino for re-election in 2027

    Source

    In a brief statement following a meeting ahead of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver on Thursday, CAF said it had "unanimously agreed" to support Infantino when the Fifa chief stands for re-election in 2027.

    Infantino re election boost after securing Asia, Africa backing
Opinion

African nations should vote football values, not blocs

The News

An opinion piece argues that Africa's 54 FIFA member associations should vote in the upcoming FIFA presidential election based on their own football philosophies and priorities, rather than as a unified "African bloc," since each country has distinct football cultures and development models.

4 September 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 4 September

  1. African nations should vote football values, not blocs

    An opinion piece argues that Africa's 54 FIFA member associations should vote in the upcoming FIFA presidential election based on their own football philosophies and priorities, rather than as a unified "African bloc," since each country has distinct football cultures and development models.

    4 September 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 3 September

  1. Namibian clubs prepare for CAF continental football debuts

    African Stars and Unam FC are preparing for their respective CAF inter-club competition campaigns. African Stars, Namibian champions, will face AS Mangasport of Gabon in the Champions League preliminary round (first leg 5 September in Gabon, return 12 September in Namibia), while Unam make their debut in the Confederation Cup against Angolan club Kabuscorp SCP.

    3 September 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 28 August

  1. Namibia Football Association backs Fifa president Infantino

    Namibia Football Association president Robert Shimooshili has backed Fifa president Gianni Infantino and reaffirmed the association's unity with the Confederation of African Football, which endorsed the withdrawal of Infantino's proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme after criticism from other continental confederations.

    28 August 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 25 August

  1. Eto'o defends embattled Fifa president Infantino

    Former Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o has backed Fifa president Gianni Infantino, saying he "hasn't done anything wrong" despite mounting pressure over a collapsed private investment proposal for Fifa tournaments. Eto'o suggested the criticism was politically motivated ahead of Fifa's presidential election next year.

    25 August 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 16 August

  1. Cameroon wins Women's Africa Cup of Nations for first time

    Cameroon defeated Malawi 3-0 in the final in Rabat to win the Women's Africa Cup of Nations for the first time after finishing runners-up on three occasions. Cameroon had initially failed to qualify but received a second chance when the tournament organisers increased the field from 12 to 16 teams.

    16 August 2026 · The Namibian

Saturday 15 August

  1. Malawi faces Cameroon in 2026 Wafcon final in Morocco

    Sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga have guided Malawi to the Women's Africa Cup of Nations final against Cameroon on Sunday, with Temwa scoring five goals and Tabitha four en route to the title decider. Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina has been outstanding for the Indomitable Lionesses, saving four penalties in the semi-final victory over Morocco.

    15 August 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 13 August

  1. CAF chief Motsepe says Infantino's future should be decided by election

    Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has said that Gianni Infantino's future as Fifa president should be decided by election, as the embattled Infantino faces criticism over an aborted plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors and pressure from UEFA, Concacaf and AFC to resign.

    13 August 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 11 August

  1. Chula Chula's CAF Confederation Cup spot goes to Unam FC

    The NFA submitted Chula Chula FC for the CAF Confederation Cup after the club finished second in the 2025/26 domestic league and requested consideration, but the submission was subject to CAF approval. After CAF extended the registration period, the NFA Cup — whose winner was designated as Namibia's representative — concluded with Unam FC as champions, making Unam the eligible representative instead.

    11 August 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 10 August

  1. Three football confederations rebuke Infantino over governance

    Uefa, Concacaf and AFC issued a joint letter criticizing Fifa president Gianni Infantino, declaring that football "belongs to no individual" and stating that leadership is not a possession. The letter came after Infantino launched and then withdrew a plan to bring private investment into Fifa competitions, drawing scathing criticism from multiple confederations.

    10 August 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 23 July

  1. Governance reforms key to transforming Namibian sport sector

    Experts at a Namibia Institute of Corporate Governance forum argued that stronger leadership, transparency and accountability—rather than funding alone—are essential to fixing Namibian sport. Governance challenges facing the country's sport federations include failure to submit audited financial statements and complex accountability to multiple stakeholders.

    23 July 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 22 July

  1. CAF chief Motsepe defends FIFA president Infantino

    African football boss Patrice Motsepe defended FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday, praising his commitment to football and support for Africa, despite growing criticism over Infantino's handling of issues including a suspension decision and tournament format changes.

    22 July 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 15 July

  1. NFA needs government backing for 2028 Afcon co-hosting bid

    Namibia's Football Association is seeking formal government commitment to pursue a regional bid to co-host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations alongside South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. The NFA says its main infrastructure challenge is ensuring a CAF-compliant stadium is ready by 2028.

    15 July 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 14 July

  1. NFA's 2028 Afcon co-hosting bid needs government backing

    The Namibian Football Association's hopes of co-hosting the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations with South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe depend on government formal commitment and ensuring stadiums are ready by 2028. The NFA secretary general said Namibia meets several CAF infrastructure requirements but its main challenge is having a CAF-compliant stadium available.

    14 July 2026 · The Namibian

Saturday 11 July

  1. South African footballer Jayden Adams dies at 25

    South African midfielder Jayden Adams, who played in all three of South Africa's group-stage matches at the ongoing World Cup, died Saturday at age 25. Police opened an investigation after his body was found at a house in Cape Town; the cause of death was not disclosed.

    11 July 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 9 July

  1. FC Ongos coach Kanalelo departs after fourth-place finish

    Former FC Ongos head coach Ronny Kanalelo, appointed in November 2025, has stepped down from the role after guiding the club to a fourth-place finish in the 2025/26 Namibia Premier Football League season. Kanalelo said he leaves proud of the progress made, though financial constraints limited the team's ability to strengthen the squad as intended.

    9 July 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 8 July

  1. NFA awaits CAF decision on Unam's Confederation Cup place

    The Namibia Football Association has received Unam FC's request to compete in the 2026 CAF Confederation Cup after winning the NFA Cup, and is awaiting CAF's guidance. CAF's extension of the club licensing deadline from 30 June to 25 July potentially allows Unam enough time to complete the required licensing process.

    8 July 2026 · The Namibian

  2. NFA honours football legend Oscar 'Silver Fox' Mengo

    Namibia Football Association honoured legend Oscar Mengo for his contribution to Namibian football. Mengo, a former star player for African Stars FC and founder of Liverpool FC, told The Namibian that Namibian football is moving in the right direction but needs better player salaries and sponsorship to develop talent for continental and global recognition.

    8 July 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 3 July

  1. NFA defends gender prize money gap in football competitions

    NFA president Robert Shimooshili attributed the disparity in prize money between men's and women's football to differences in development, history, and attendance levels, noting that international bodies like FIFA and CAF are working to elevate women's football. Men's winners received N$400,000 in the recent NFA Cup, while women's winners received N$100,000.

    3 July 2026 · New Era

Thursday 2 July

  1. Stadium consultant fee far exceeds government budget

    A consultant hired to advise on renovating Windhoek's Independence Stadium is set to earn about N$337 million – more than three times the government's budgeted amount – through a 17.5% fee on the estimated N$2 billion project cost, which industry experts say is unusually high.

    2 July 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 29 June

  1. African nations reach record nine teams in 2026 World Cup knockout stage

    For the first time in World Cup history, a record nine African countries have progressed beyond the group stage, marking a significant advancement for the continent in the tournament. Previously, only one African nation at a time had managed to qualify for the knockout stage.

    29 June 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 25 June

  1. Namibian referees selected for WAFCON 2026 preparatory course

    Namibian football referees Vistorina Shangula and Antsino Twanyanyukwa have been selected for CAF's preparatory course ahead of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, joining 51 other match officials from across the continent for training in Cairo. The duo are the only two Namibian referees among the 53 officials selected, underscoring growing recognition of Namibia's refereeing standards on the African stage.

    25 June 2026 · New Era

Thursday 11 June

  1. South Africa faces Mexico in FIFA World Cup 2026 opener

    South Africa played Mexico in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on co-host Mexico's home soil in Mexico City, with the fixture serving as a symbolic rematch of the 2010 World Cup's opening game. South Africa qualified as Group A winners in CAF qualifying for their fourth World Cup appearance.

    11 June 2026 · Informanté

  2. Namibian CAF clubs seek home advantage in continental competitions

    Namibia's representatives in CAF interclub competitions—African Stars in the CAF Champions League and Chula Chula FC in the CAF Confederation Cup—are hopeful of hosting their continental matches at Unam Main Campus Stadium, citing cost savings and home-crowd support as key benefits.

    11 June 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 10 June

  1. US bars Somali referee, Iranian staff from World Cup entry

    The White House Task Force for the World Cup defended denying visas to a Somali referee and some Iranian team support staff, with a US State Department official saying the referee was "associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations." The decision means Somali referee Omar Artan, named men's referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football, will miss the opportunity to become the first Somali to referee at a World Cup.

    10 June 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 9 June

  1. Somalia backs referee denied US entry for World Cup

    Somalia's Ministry of Sports expressed deep regret after award-winning referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States on Saturday, preventing him from becoming the first Somali official to officiate at a World Cup finals. Artan, named CAF men's referee of the year in 2025 and selected among 52 referees by FIFA, was barred following a routine inspection at Miami International Airport.

    9 June 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 2 June

  1. African nations secure ten places at 2026 FIFA World Cup

    Africa will be represented by ten nations at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, with nine countries securing direct qualification and one earning a place through intercontinental play-offs. The direct qualifiers include continental heavyweights Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and South Africa, alongside debutants Cape Verde and returning Congo DR.

    2 June 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 27 May

  1. Shalulile becomes first Namibian to win CAF Champions League

    Namibian striker Peter Shalulile won his 14th career title after Mamelodi Sundowns defeated AS FAR 2-1 on aggregate in the 2026 CAF Champions League final, making him the first Namibian player to claim the continental trophy and reinforcing his status as the most decorated Namibian footballer of all time.

    27 May 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 26 May

  1. Brazil seeks sixth World Cup title against Morocco and Scotland

    Brazil, hunting their first World Cup title in 24 years, face Morocco—semi-finalists in 2022—and Scotland in Group C, with new coach Carlo Ancelotti tasked with optimizing an unbalanced squad featuring strong defensive options but clear gaps at full-back, midfield, and centre-forward.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 24 May

  1. Independence Stadium procurement expected to begin second quarter

    The government is expected to start the procurement process for a contractor to redevelop Independence Stadium in Windhoek during the second quarter of the current financial year, with the stadium currently at the final design and documentation stage. The project is one of five stadiums planned across the country to be upgraded to Confederation of African Football category three standards, to be implemented in phases.

    24 May 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 21 May

  1. Senegal announce 28-man squad for 2026 World Cup campaign

    Coach Pape Thiaw unveiled a 28-man Senegal squad for the 2026 World Cup, featuring established stars including Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy alongside emerging talent. Senegal will begin their Group I campaign on June 16 against France in New Jersey, also facing Norway and Iraq.

    21 May 2026 · The Namibian

Confederation of African Football — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute