Brave Five march on after high-scoring thriller in Nairobi

The air inside Nairobi’s Kasarani Indoor Arena was thick with tension as the Brave Five stepped onto the court against Kenya’s Harambee Samba in the second leg of the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2026 Qualifiers.

Namibia carried a fragile four-goal advantage from the first leg played in Swakopmund last weekend. For the Brave Five, the encounter was not just about protecting a lead, but about proving they belonged on the continental stage.

The first half was a whirlwind of Kenyan pressure. Spurred on by a vocal home crowd, Harambee Samba attacked relentlessly and surged into a 5-4 lead by halftime, threatening to undo Namibia’s hard-earned cushion.

For a moment, it appeared as though the Brave Five’s campaign might slip away under the pace and intensity of the hosts.

However, coach Marcos Antunes used the interval to reset his side’s focus, and the response was emphatic. The second half belonged entirely to Namibia.

In a thrilling display of attacking futsal, the Brave Five tore through the Kenyan defence, netting six goals after the break to silence the Kasarani Arena.

By the final whistle, the scoreboard read 10-7 in Namibia’s favour, sealing an emphatic 18-11 aggregate victory.

The result confirmed Kenya’s elimination and booked the Brave Five a place in the final round of the Futsal Afcon Qualifiers.

Attention now shifts to a tougher test, with Namibia set to face Libya next month as they continue their push for qualification.