World Cup (Q): Namibia’s game-plan fell apart – Collin Benjamin

Namibia football team coach Collin Benjamin says their game-plan crumbled after Liberia scored early goals to unsettle the Brave Warriors in Thursday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

The visitors lost the Group H game 3-1 at the Samuel Kenyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia. The Lone Stars scored through Ayouba Kosiah from the penalty spot before Sulahmana Mamadu and Edward Ledlum sealed the victory. Haaland Ndeuyenma scored Namibia’s consolation goal.

In a post-match interview, Benjamin admitted that the Lone Stars dominated the opening exchanges, and when his charges tried to come back, it was late.

𝟐𝟒 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝟑𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬✈️

The Brave Warriors arrived safely in Monrovia,Liberia#BraveNation #awarriorsjourney #anationsdream pic.twitter.com/ceds8vpsM8

— NFA (@Official_NFA) October 8, 2025

 “They scored as early as the fifth minute,” the coach is quoted as saying by the Namibian Football Association.

“I think we were not too aggressive in the one-against-one on the wing. After the second goal, the whole game-plan then fell apart. But I think after that, our team had most of the ball, and created a few chances. It was just unlucky that we couldn’t score. And then obviously trying to get that second goal, we had to open up and that’s where Liberia then scored that third goal. It was a good goal.”

Benjamin has since said his charges have no time to groan and moan over the loss to Liberia. The Brave Warriors need to face group leaders Tunisia on Monday at the Stade Hammadi Agrebi in a last match for the group.

The coach said “We have to play Tunisia. I think it’s another chance for our team to grow, my team to grow, and for my youngsters to get international experience. The national experience is very important for them and their growth and development. And at the moment, we’re going to sit down, we’re going to analyze what we did wrong, what we can improve and then on Monday, we take on Tunisia.”

Namibia have a chance to compete for the World Cup qualification slot via play-offs, but they need to beat Tunisia at all cost to be guaranteed of that prospect otherwise Malawi can seize the advantage.

Why Malawi pose a threat to Namibia’s route to World Cup

The Brave Warriors sit in second place of the group’s standings with 15 points, one point ahead of Liberia and five in front of fourth-placed Malawi who are at par with Equatorial Guinea. Sao Tome and Principe remain without a point at the bottom of the pool.

The Flames stand a chance to take their tally to 13 points if awarded maximum points from the aborted game against Equatorial Guinea who failed to show up for Thursday’s game due to their internal administrative challenges. If Malawi beat Sao Tome and Principe on Monday, and Benjamin’s men lose in Tunis, Kalisto Pasuwa’s men will finish in second place and compete in the play-offs.

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