Windhoek: The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture is currently waiting for a technical review from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to finalize the construction plans for the Independence Stadium. This was confirmed by Gerald Vries, the Executive Director and Accounting Officer for Sport, Youth and National Service, in response to inquiries from Nampa.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Namibia lacks a stadium approved by CAF or the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), preventing national teams from hosting international matches, which forces them to play home games abroad. This situation has persisted for five years due to insufficient infrastructure.
Vries mentioned that design documentation was completed in December 2025 and submitted to CAF for compliance review under its 2022 Stadium Regulations, Category 3 requirements. Additional documents were provided to World Athletics for assessment against its 2019 Track and Field Facilities Manual. Despite a technical workshop held in January 2026 in Windhoek with a CAF representative, the ministry has yet to receive feedback.
The ministry plans to finalize construction preparations by March 2026 and initiate the procurement process in the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, from April to June 2026. Between April and October 2025, several technical studies, including a topographical survey and geotechnical investigations, were conducted at the stadium site.
The initial budget allocation of N.dollars 415 million was reduced to N.dollars 215 million during the Mid-Term Budget Review in October 2025. Of this revised budget, N.dollars 38,459,190.60 has been spent on consultancy fees for the stadium upgrade. The remaining funds are expected to be used between January and March 2026.
Vries emphasized that no funds would be returned to the Treasury, as the allocated budget will be fully utilized. This includes consultancy fees for the Independence Stadium and feasibility study costs for new sports facilities in Katima Mulilo and Opuwo, as well as the construction of basic sport facilities in all 14 regions by February 2026.