Also known as: the Lions
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Namibian
… But Belgium, having fought back astonishingly late from 2-0 down in the round-of-32 to dispatch Senegal, did not panic. …
Merino strikes late as Spain beat Belgium to set up France World Cup semiThe Namibian
… After netting braces in the group-stage wins over Senegal and Iraq, as well as the last-32 defeat of Sweden, he got the only goal from the penalty spot against Paraguay in the last round. …
Mbappe strikes again as France beat Morocco to reach World Cup semi finalsThe Namibian
… First they came back from the dead to beat Senegal 3-2 before sweeping aside co-hosts the United States in the last 16, thanks to Charles De Ketelaere’s first-half double. …
Belgium bid to crack Spain’s ironclad defence in World Cup quarter finalThe Namibian
… That came after they rallied from two goals down in the last 32 to beat Senegal 3-2 in extra-time. …
World Cup: Eight teams remain in the hunt for gloryThe Namibian
… While the newly introduced Round of 32 proved a bridge too far for the likes of South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democcratic Republic of Congo, and Senegal, who fell in fiercely contested battles, the bigger picture reveals a monumental breakthrough. …
Africa’s Football AwakeningThe Namibian
… e if the young kid scored,” Popovic said. “You’d probably be sitting there saying how wonderful it is that an 18-year-old took a penalty and scored.” Egypt’s win bucked what has hitherto been a disappointing knockout phase for African teams,with South Africa, Ivory Coast, Senegal …
Argentina advance after Cape Verde World Cup scare, Egypt throughThe Namibian
… Algeria, who had never won a World Cup knockout game in four previous trips to the tournament, were the latest African team to exit in the last 32, after the demise of Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and South Africa. …
Portugal advance after VAR drama to set up Spain showdownThe Namibian
… After the expansion of the competition to 48 teams, 10 African countries Algeria, Cape Verde, DRC, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia qualified for this year’s finals hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. …
African football comes of age at 2026 World CupThe Namibian
… Look at Niger, Senegal and Ghana. We can’t let Namibia get there,” Reissner said. …
New mural calls for liberty for allThe Namibian
… Norway, who also saw Jorgen Strand Larsen have a penalty saved, go through in second place with six points, their progress already having been secured before this game thanks to wins over Iraq and Senegal. …
Dembele hits hat-trick as France thrash second string Norway at World CupMikel Merino scored a late goal to send Spain through to the World Cup semi-final with a 2-1 victory over Belgium at SoFi Stadium on Friday. Spain will face tournament favorites France in Dallas on Tuesday.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Mikel Merino scored a late goal to send Spain through to the World Cup semi-final with a 2-1 victory over Belgium at SoFi Stadium on Friday. Spain will face tournament favorites France in Dallas on Tuesday.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Kylian Mbappé scored a brilliant curling finish after a missed penalty, and set up Ousmane Dembele's goal as France defeated Morocco 2-0 to advance to the World Cup semi-finals, moving Mbappé level with Lionel Messi with eight tournament goals.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Belgium meet Spain in the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday, seeking to break Spain's defence, which has recorded six consecutive World Cup clean sheets—a first in history. Spain have conceded just six shots on target in five matches and are playing possession-based football similar to their 2010 World Cup-winning approach.
9 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The FIFA World Cup has reached the quarter-final stage with eight teams remaining, including France, Morocco, Spain, and Belgium. Matches are taking place in the United States beginning Thursday.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →
According to The Namibian, African football has achieved a watershed moment at the FIFA World Cup, with a record-breaking nine teams advancing to the knockout rounds—a major breakthrough that signals the continent's emergence as an established power in world football.
5 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Argentina survived an improbable challenge from Cape Verde, defeating the African team 3-2 after extra time in a World Cup match on Friday, with a Diney Borges own goal in the 111th minute breaking Cape Verde's resistance. Argentina will face Egypt on Tuesday for a place in the quarter-finals.
4 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Portugal advanced to the World Cup last 16 with a 2-1 victory over Croatia, with Goncalo Ramos scoring the winner in stoppage time after VAR ruled out Croatia's apparent late equaliser for offside. The match sets up a showdown with Spain, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a penalty in the contest.
3 July 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
A new mural created by Sister Namibia and ENK Public Art was unveiled on Nelson Mandela Avenue during Pride Month, referencing the Namibian national anthem with the message "hold high the banner of liberty" and featuring rainbow flags and colourful figures. The project aims to send a message of visibility and inclusion to the queer community in Namibia.
29 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Ousmane Dembele scored a hat-trick as France defeated Norway 4-1, with Dembele opening in the seventh minute, scoring again on 20 minutes, and completing the hat-trick in the 32nd—one of the earliest in World Cup history. France advanced as Group I winners with nine points and 10 goals in three matches.
26 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Senegal became the first African side to score five goals in a World Cup match, defeating 10-man Iraq 5-0 in their final Group I match, with Pape Gueye scoring twice. Senegal boosted their chances of progressing as one of the eight best third-placed teams with the best goal difference of teams on three points.
26 June 2026 · The Namibian →
France and Norway meet in a crucial World Cup group-stage match on Friday, with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland — both on four goals — set to feature prominently. France need only a draw to clinch first place in the group owing to superior goal difference.
26 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Over 470 fishing vessels operating under African flags are secretly controlled by foreign owners, with profits channelled through shell companies and offshore accounts, according to data compiled by Oceana. Namibia has 30 such foreign-beneficially owned vessels; the African Defence Forum reports the continent loses at least N$212.8 billion annually in its fishing trade, primarily through illegal and unreported fishing.
25 June 2026 · New Era →
Lionel Messi became the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer with two goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria, breaking Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals. Messi's tournament tally now stands at 18 goals.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway defeated Senegal 3-2 on Monday to advance to the World Cup last 32, securing their progression with a game to spare.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The African Union has declared 2026–2035 the Decade of Reparations and called for a global reparations fund to address colonialism and slavery; Reform UK responded by threatening visa restrictions for residents of African countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, demanding European accountability.
22 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
An opinion piece argues that Namibia's real task is not to celebrate oil discoveries in the Orange Basin, but to develop the institutional, technical, and commercial discipline needed to govern them before project momentum shapes outcomes. Discovery creates only the possibility of achievement; the state must understand what resources it has found and govern them effectively before bad habits harden.
22 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia has accepted responsibility for hosting the Global Water Partnership's (GWP) headquarters in Windhoek, positioning the capital at the centre of international efforts on water security, climate resilience and sustainable development. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the organisation's headquarters belongs to the global community and Namibia must help deliver on its expectations, with a new investment facility expected to influence nearly US$15 billion in water-related investments by 2030.
18 June 2026 · New Era →
England begin their World Cup bid against Croatia on Wednesday, seeking to end a 60-year wait for a trophy, while Cristiano Ronaldo is set to play in a record-equalling sixth World Cup tournament for Portugal against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria to become the joint all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals, equalling Miroslav Klose's record.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Erling Haaland scored twice in his first World Cup appearance as Norway defeated Iraq 4-1 in Boston on Tuesday, their first match at a major tournament since 1998. The win left Norway top of Group I on goal difference, level with France on three points.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Omar Artan, set to be the first match official from Somalia to referee at a World Cup finals, was turned back at Miami International Airport on Saturday due to "vetting concerns" from US Customs and Border Protection. FIFA confirmed he would play no part in the tournament, citing the decision as the sole preserve of the United States as tournament co-host.
9 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Martin Odegaard scored a second-half equaliser to earn Norway a 1-1 draw with Morocco in a World Cup warm-up match, with Brahim Diaz having given Morocco an early lead.
8 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Kai Havertz and Leroy Sane scored as Germany defeated the United States 2-1 in Chicago on Saturday in both teams' final World Cup warm-up game before the tournament began. Despite the loss, the US mounted a promising performance with chances to equalize, including a notable strike by Antonee Robinson from outside the box.
7 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Amad Diallo scored a late winner as Ivory Coast stunned France 2-1 in a World Cup warm-up match in Nantes on Thursday. Kylian Mbappe had a fruitless evening and was replaced at half-time, remaining stuck on 56 goals for France.
5 June 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams competing in 104 matches across the United States, Mexico and Canada from 11 June to 19 July 2026. It marks the first World Cup hosted by three countries and the first with 48 teams, up from the previous 32-team format.
1 June 2026 · Informanté →
Mohamed Salah, 33, leads Egypt at what is likely his final World Cup, seeking a first tournament victory for the Pharaohs after three previous campaigns without a win. Salah recently ended his nine-year Liverpool career with 257 goals before joining Al-Ittihad.
28 May 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
A same-sex couple in Botswana has filed a court case seeking the right to marry after being told it was illegal when they attempted to register their intent at a local government office. Hearings are scheduled for 14 and 15 July; if successful, Botswana would become the second African country to legalise same-sex marriage after South Africa in 2006.
25 May 2026 · The Namibian →