Futsal Namibia has appointed Marcos Antunes as head coach for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya, bringing in an experienced international tactician ahead of the crucial two-legged encounter.
Antunes who hails from Portugal brings a wealth of international experience to the Brave 5 team, having featured at two Fifa Futsal World Cups – Lithuania in 2021 and Uzbekistan in 2024. He most recently guided Angola to a silver medal at the 2024 CAF Futsal Afcon underlining his pedigree on the African stage.
The 49-year-old UEFA-licensed coach holds a postgraduate qualification in futsal and is widely respected for his tactical discipline, player development philosophy, and competitive mindset.
Speaking to Desert FM, Futsal Namibia media officer Greyeno Rusberg says Antunes was chosen for his wealth of international experience. “Coach Marcos was one of the options on the table to bring that experience over, getting the team prepared this time around as it’s over two rounds and still carrying us through this whole 2026 campaign,” Rusberg says.
He adds that delays in announcing the appointment were due to visa and logistical arrangements, noting, “I think that was the biggest bottleneck in sharing this news with the public and with the media platforms.”
With preparations continuing, Rusberg says the team has been working with a provisional squad that will soon be trimmed to a final 14-man team. He says the technical team is prioritising fitness, ball control, defensive discipline, and scoring ability, as well as a goalkeeper who can contribute both in goal and as an outfield player.
“The intensity is good, and we are positive with the preparations,” Rusberg says, adding that the qualifiers will be demanding, as the winner over two legs between Namibia and Kenya will then face Libya for a place at the 2026 Futsal Africa Cup of Nations.
This year’s home fixture will be played at the MTC Dome in Swakopmund, a change from last year when matches were hosted in Windhoek. Rusberg explains that the move is due to venue availability and compliance with Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirements, while also aiming to take the sport to other regions.
“We hope the support will be strong because the team will need that home backing to take a favourable result into the second leg in Kenya,” he says.
Looking ahead, Rusberg says the target is clear: qualification for the 2026 Futsal Afcon in Morocco.
“The expectations are for an improved performance and to reach the tournament in April 2026,” he says. “For now, we are focused on Kenya. From there, we will look to the next challenge.”
Namibia will host Kenya in the first leg on 23 January at 19h00 at the MTC Dome, with the return leg to be played in Kenya.
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