Swakopmund: Newly appointed Namibia men's national futsal head coach, Marcos Antunes, has expressed his commitment to ensuring that his players honour the Namibian Football Association (NFA) badge as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures against Kenya. The Namibian men's futsal team is gearing up to face Kenya in Swakopmund on Friday, 23 January 2026, in a two-leg qualifier for the 2026 Morocco Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

According to Namibia Press Agency, futsal is a fast-paced, skilful indoor version of football, involving two teams of five players each, competing on a court smaller than a traditional football pitch. During the official announcement of the squad on Monday, Antunes emphasized that the technical team has selected the best players currently available in the country to represent Namibia with pride in the qualifiers.

Antunes, who previously led Angola to a silver medal at the last AFCON futsal tournament held in Morocco, noted that Namibia possesses the necessary organisation, talent, and resources to excel in futsal. He remarked that understanding the potential of futsal could lead to the sport's growth in the country.

Despite the limited visibility of futsal in Namibia, Antunes is optimistic about its future and content with the conditions for growth. The first leg of the CAF Futsal AFCON 2026 qualifiers will take place at the MTC Dome in Swakopmund, with the return leg scheduled for 28 January 2026 in Kenya.

The victor of the Namibia-Kenya clash will progress to the second round, facing Libya in February 2026. Seven teams, including host nation Morocco, will eventually qualify for the Futsal AFCON 2026 finals, set to be held in April 2026 in Morocco.