COSAFA Women’s Championship: Namibia deserved title – Kakuva

Namibia senior women’s team coach Lesley Kakuva has described winning the 2026 COSAFA Women’s Championship title for the first time as an indescribable feeling.

He spoke during a post-match press conference after upsetting hosts South Africa 2-1 in extra-time at New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.

More than just a trophy. These are tears of 20 years of dedication. Zenatha Coleman bows out of COSAFA as a champion and Player of the Match🏆#CWC2025 #Hollywoodbets #HollywoodbetsCWC2025 #FINALS pic.twitter.com/AMAx6gbeJv

— COSAFA (@COSAFAMEDIA) March 1, 2026

Kakuva said he had a feeling right from the start that the championship was meant for his side.

“20 years is a long time. It has never happened in our history. Here we are seated as champions of COSAFA 2026. It is an indescribable feeling. The girls are happy. The people back home are happy,” he said.

The journey of Namibia from group-stage

The Brave Gladiators mentor explained how his side emerged from a three-member Group C to make it to the paying ranks.

“We were in a group of three,” the coach said. “We won the first match, and we lost the second match. I told the girls that now we had to take calculators.”

“But then from the onset, you could see this tournament was meant for us. Mozambique did us a favour then we had to come up with a very strong Zambia. We had to play to our strength. Tactically, we were spot on. We scored at the right time and at that point, there was no turning point.”

How Brave Gladiators prevailed over Banyana

Reflecting on the final, Kakuva explained how he tweaked the team’s tactics after struggling against Banyana Banyana in the early stages of the game.

“We struggled during the first 45 minutes of the game. The distances were not right. We showed South Africa a lot of respect, but then we had to regroup. We took off one defensive midfielder and changed our style of play by playing two offensive midfielders. Then we started to control the game,” he said.

Nthabiseng Majiya had put Banyana Banyana ahead with a first-half strike only for Muhinatjo Havani to level matters after the break and substitute Memory Ngonda grabbed the winner in first-half extra-time for the Brave Gladiators.