Francistown – Namibia’s international striker Peter Shalulile lit up the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, Botswana, on Tuesday as he netted his first-ever hat-trick for the Brave Warriors.
Namibia’s senior men’s football team faced São Tomé and Príncipe in their International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) World Cup qualifier, determined to bounce back after their 2-1 defeat to Malawi at the same venue last Friday.
Hundreds of Namibian supporters travelled from Windhoek to Francistown to cheer their team on.
The Brave Warriors started with a high-pressing game, dominating possession and winning every second ball, but struggled to break the deadlock until the 41st minute. Dawid Ndeunyema held off the defence before finding Shalulile in space, and the striker calmly slotted home the opener.
Shalulile, who last scored for the Brave Warriors in a World Cup qualifier against Equatorial Guinea in March 2025 at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, was relentless in front of goal. Early in the second half, he struck twice more within four minutes, converting two excellent assists from Orlando Pirates winger Deon Hotto.
The 67th and 71st-minute finishes took Shalulile’s international tally to 23 goals and handed Namibia a commanding 3-0 lead. With the result secure, head coach Collin Benjamin introduced several young players, some earning their first senior international caps.
Namibia’s victory sees them remain second in Group H of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with 15 points.
Tunisia continues to lead the group with 22 points, while Liberia sits third on 11 points. Malawi and Equatorial Guinea are tied on 10 points each in fourth and fifth place, respectively. São Tomé and Príncipe remain rooted to the bottom, without a point from eight matches.
Speaking after the match, Benjamin praised his striker’s clinical display but stressed the importance of developing new talent.
“I am happy Shalulile found the back of the net, but with the introduction of young players, I believe they must learn from him as much as possible and make a difference once they are on the pitch. When these senior players are no longer here, the younger ones should be ready to lead the team,” he said.
Benjamin added that with round eight of the World Cup qualifiers concluded, the Brave Warriors’ focus now shifts to their crucial October 2025 fixture against Liberia. – Nampa
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