Libya ends Brave Five’s AFCON hopes

Namibia’s senior men’s futsal team, the Brave Five, saw their ambitions of qualifying for the TotalEnergies CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2026 come to an end following an 8–1 defeat to Libya in the second leg of their Round Two qualifier at the Misrata Multisport Hall.

The result confirmed a 19–4 aggregate victory for Libya, ending Namibia’s campaign and extinguishing hopes of reaching the continent’s premier futsal championship. The Brave Five had qualified for Round Two after progressing past Kenya in the first round, but were unable to overturn the sizeable deficit accumulated in the home leg.

Libya, one of the continent’s higher‑ranked futsal nations, dominated throughout the tie to secure their place at the finals in Morocco. The 2026 CAF Futsal AFCON will be the ninth edition of Africa’s top national futsal tournament and, for the first time, staged on a biennial basis. It will be hosted for the third consecutive edition by Morocco, who enter the competition as three‑time defending champions.

Namibia’s lone goal in the match offered a brief spark of resistance, but the Mediterranean Knights controlled proceedings to ensure qualification. With their elimination confirmed, the Brave Five will now turn their attention towards future competitions and rebuilding for the next AFCON cycle.

The TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON Morocco 2026 will feature eight teams, seven qualifiers plus hosts Morocco and continues to grow in stature as the flagship futsal competition on the continent. The tournament has played a significant role in the development of futsal in Africa, offering qualification routes to global events such as the FIFA Futsal World Cup and showcasing elite indoor football talent from across the region.

Qualified Teams for 2026 Futsal AFCON:
• Morocco (Host)
• Algeria
• Angola
• Egypt
• Libya
• Mozambique
• Tanzania
• Zambia

The Brave Five’s exit reflects both the competitive nature of African futsal and the rapid progress required to compete consistently at the highest level. Namibia’s supporters will hope the lessons learned from this campaign will serve as a foundation for future success in the sport.