Namibia are set to pocket a whopping $800 000 (R15 million) in prize money for their historic run at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Here's an in-depth look at the stunning rise and success of South Africa's north-western neighbours!
Ranked 115th in the world, according to FIFA, Namibia were one of the teams many had widely expected to get eliminated in the first round of the tournament. However, the Brave Warriors staged the seemingly unthinkable by collecting four points in three games against Tunisia, Bafana Bafana and Mali to clinch a debut spot in the round of 16.
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With the team having qualified for AFCON only three times in their history before the current edition, manager Collin Benjamin has also shot to fame following their success, especially as he was the youngest coach at the competition, aged 45.
But how has a side with a population of less than three million people and very little experience in continental competitions managed to outlast giants such as Tunisia and Algeria, who share three AFCON titles between them?
Admittedly, it has been a tournament for the underdogs, with the quarter-finals of this year's showpiece not including any of the five top-ranked CAF teams. Namibia's journey in competition began in 1998, when they collected just one point from their group and conceded 11 goals, including four by Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy. And in 2008 and 2019, they also failed to progress past the group stage, and were yet to win a game at an AFCON.
That abysmal record certainly points to how they have massively improved under Benjamin since he took the reins in July 2022 after being promoted from the assistant manager role. Since then, the former defensive midfielder has been in charge of 11 matches to date, with his side having been unbeaten in seven of those games. He also saw his men keep two clean sheets against heavyweights Mali and Tunisia at this latest AFCON.
Namibia's high-energy game is complemented by explosive players such as Deon Hotto of Orlando Pirates, Riaan Hanamub of AmaZulu, and Peter Shalulile of Mamelodi Sundowns. Benjamin has also unlocked some fresh talent, bringing out the best in Cape Town City's Prins Tjiueza and Black Leopards' 23-year-old star Bethuel Muzeu.
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With the Brave Warriors having now collected a cool R15 million for reaching the round of 16 before being eliminated, the head coach has vowed that his side will get back to work with their heads held high.
"We can be disappointed, it's normal, but it's a lesson that we have to learn from, that just gives us the opportunity to say we have to go back and we have to start working again but heads up," he said of his team's AFCON exit, according to The Namibian.
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