Namibian are Africa hockey champions

Namibia’s men’s hockey team made history on Sunday when they beat South Africa on penalties to win the Africa Indoor Cup at the Swakopmund Dome. 

It was the first time that Namibia’s men had won the continental title, and in so doing they joined the women who were African champions twice before in 2017 and 2022.  

This time, though, South Africa won the women’s title after beating Namibia in another thrilling penalty shootout, but by finishing second, Namibia also qualified for the 2025 Indoor World Cup in Croatia, along with their male compatriots. 

In the men’s final, South Africa took a 2-0 lead shortly after halftime with two goals in two minutes by Mustaphaa Cassiem and Dal Langford. Namibia, however, made a great comeback and two penalty corner goals by Fagan Hansen drew them level at 2-2 heading into the final quarter. 

SA’s star player Cassiem restored their lead with a great solo goal with four minutes to go, but Namibia immediately struck back when Cody van der Merwe scored from a penalty corner to draw them level at 3-3 and force the match into a penalty shootout. 

In a dramatic shoot out, Namibia edged into the lead and when South Africa’s captain Jethro Eustice missed his penalty shot, Namibia had won the shootout 4-3 to claim the title. 

Amid scenes of joy and delight, Namibian captain and keeper DJ Strauss was mobbed by his teammates, while the fans in the stands were also ecstatic. 

In the process Namibia’s men won the African title for the first time, dethroning the regular champions South Africa, while both nations have now qualified for the 2025 Indoor World Cup in Croatia. 

The women’s final was just as intense and saw another amazing comeback by Namibia. 

South Africa took command early on to take a 3-0 lead into halftime after goals by Tegan Fourie, Jessica Lardant and Laylaa Davids. Namibia, however, came back with a vengeance, with Jerrica Bartlett opening their account shortly after halftime. 

Namibia stepped up the pressure in the final quarter and two goals in quick succession by Kiana Cormack put them level at 3-3 to send the match into a penalty shootout. 

Here SA held their nerve and when Tegan Fourie scored with her second, sudden death shot, the clinched the title, winning 2-1 on the shootout. 

The president ofthe Namibia Hockey Union, Reagon Graig said it was a historic moment in the annals of Namibian sport. 

“It is a momentous occasion for Namibian sport – we have rewritten the history books and our team has shown that it can be done. Hard work, thorough preparation, the inputs of the coaches and the rest of the support staff, and regular international competitions –  that all contributed to us becoming African champions,” he said. 

“Our men showed they have the capacity and the will to do it, and what they did was not just for hockey, but for all Namibian sport codes,” he added. 

Graig said he had a premonition that the men would win the title. 

“It was in my bones, I could feel it. When we went 1-0 behind in the men’s final I told the guys, dont worry, just wait and see, and then we came back to force the shootout, it was something else.”

“I’m still on Cloud Nine, it shows we as Namibians definitely have it in us to excel on the African continent and now we are looking forward to proving it on the international stage with both our men and women at next year’s world cup in Croatia,” he added. 

“Our women were extremely unlucky to lose their final against South Africa and we could have had both the African men and women’s champions. But I’m just grateful to be part of our hockey community in this historic time for our sport,” he said.