Warriors fall to Kazakhstan

Namibia were trounced 2-0 by hosts Kazakhstan in their opening match of the FIFA Series 2026 in Astana yesterday.

Both goals, after 12 and 79 minutes, came from set-pieces as the Brave Warriors failed to keep their opponents at bay.

Coach Collin Benjamin said he was disappointed, but pleased that the team got to play against a different kind of opponent.

”I think we could have done better had we maintained the level we had in the early minutes of the match.

“It is disappointing, but we will go back to the drawing board and see where we can improve as a team,” Benjamin said.

Namibia has now lost its last five matches in a row, including against Comoros (0-4 and 0-1), Tunisia (0-3) and Liberia (1-3).

This year’s FIFA Series features 48 teams across 12 groups worldwide, with four teams competing in each host nation. Namibia has been drawn alongside hosts Kazakhstan and Comoros, with the latter awaiting as their next opponent on Saturday.

Each team will play two official ‘A’ international matches over two match days. After predetermined opening fixtures, second-round pairings are decided based on initial results or scheduled match-ups. While an overall winner may be determined, the primary focus of the FIFA Series is preparation, development and international exposure.

Importantly, all matches count towards the FIFA world rankings, making the tournament a valuable platform for teams seeking to improve their global standing.