Stars do the Double 

African Stars completed a dominant football season when they beat Young Brazilians 2-1 after extra time on Saturday night to add the PstBet NFA Cup to their 2023/24 league title. 

Their talismanic forward Willy Stephanus scored both goals – the first from the penalty spot and the second a brilliant freekick, as Stars lifted the trophy for the sixth time since independence, while completing the league and cup double for the third time. 

Young Brazilians though gave a great performance, pushing the champions to the limit, and can feel proud of their display. 

Stars did the early attacking with a Stephanus cracker flying just over the bar, while Angelo Kuezi sent in some dangerous crosses from he right wing. 

Their pressure told when Brazilians were penalised for a handball in the box and Stephanus stepped up to coolly send Brazilians’ keeper Donal Raynold the wrong way. 

Kuezi also came close to scoring, but Brazilians grew stronger as the half progressed, with Christinus Windstaan and Vincentius Jobs influential in midfield.

Franscois Vries had a header cleared off the line, a volley by Olphin Ngxabi was well saved, while Pollen Rooi broke free into the box but couldn’t control his shot. 

The tempo picked up in the second half and Brazilians nearly scored when Karel Gaseb headed on a cross to Quinton van Staden, who’s shot went narrowly wide.

A Windstaan freekick also went over the bar, while at the other end, Stephanus put Ibroihim Youssouf clear but his half volley went wide.

Brazilians, however, finally got the equaliser with eight minutes remaining when Windstaan sent in a great cross into the box and Van Staden edged in between Charles Hambira and Edmund Kambanda to tip the ball into the net. 

With the match going into extra time, Stars regained the initiative with Staphanus at the heart of some free-flowing attacks and when they won a freekick, he curled a great shot over the wall into the left hand corner of the net. 

Brazilians through everything into the attack in the final quarter, and had a great chance to equalise when Windstaan found an unmarked Benjamin Fransman in the box, but his shot went wide of the goals as Stars held on for a pulsating win. 

Khomas Nampol, meanwhile won the third place play-off after beating Eeshoke Chula Chula 3-2 after extra time. 

Nampol took a 2-0 lead after goals by George Frans and Absalom Imbondi, but Chula Chula opened their account with a penalty by Johannes Baziliu just before the break.

Michael Jonas equalised for Chula Chula to send the match into extra time, but Frans pounced with his second goal to secure victory for Khomas Nampol.

Stars won N$500 000 for winning the cup; Young Brazilians received N$250 000; Khomas Nampol received N$100 000; and Eeshoke Chula Chula received N$50 000. Young Brazilians forward Quinton van Staden received N$20 000 for winning the player of the tournament award, Shaun Rugam of Unam won N$15 000 for the top goalscorer award with seven goals, and African Stars goalkeeper Ndisiro Kamaijanda received N$15 000 for winning the goalkeeper of the tournament award. 

The women’s final also went into extra time, with FC Ongos eventually beating Khomas Nampol 2-1. 

Yvonne Kooper gave Ongos the lead midway through the first half but then turned from hero to villain when she was sent off for a deliberate handball, with Iina Katuta equalising for Nampol from the ensuing penalty.

Twelikondjela Amukoto came close for Nampol, with her shot hitting the upright, but Ongos held on until Juliana Skrywer got the winner in extra time to also complete the league and cup double. 

Lydiana Nanamus of Ongos won the player of the tournament award and N$20 000; Yvonne Kooper won the top goalscorer award of N$15 000 with eight goals, and Khomas Nampol goalie Fenny Mwalunga won the goalkeeper of the tournament award of N$15 000.