Swakopmund: Namibia's senior men's futsal team, known as the Brave Fives, faced a significant setback in their quest to qualify for the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) after suffering a 3-11 defeat against Libya at The Dome in Swakopmund. According to Namibia Press Agency, the Brave Fives entered the second round of the 2026 Morocco CAF Futsal Afcon qualifiers with optimism following a historic win over Kenya. However, Libya, recognized as one of Africa's strongest futsal teams, posed a formidable challenge. Namibia found themselves trailing early, conceding two goals in the first three minutes. Despite settling into the game and searching for scoring opportunities, Namibia went into the break down 4-2. The second half saw Namibia put up a spirited fight, but Libya's experience and skill were evident as they scored seven more goals. Namibia managed only one additional goal in the final period. Brave Fives head coach Marcos Antunes, in a post-match interview, emphasized patience and support for the team's dev elopment journey. Antunes remarked, 'We are not the best team in the world because we beat Kenya, and we are not the worst team in the world because we lost to Libya. This is a process that takes time. We need to support these kids.' He also expressed gratitude to the spectators for their unwavering support, despite the heavy defeat. Antunes noted that Libya's coach was surprised by Namibia's competitiveness, highlighting the team's positive attitude and response. He reiterated that Namibia's journey is ongoing, with a return leg scheduled in Libya on 08 February 2026. Despite the challenges, the coach remains committed to fostering a winning mentality within the team. The winner of the tie will secure a spot at the Afcon finals in April, joining seven other qualified teams, including hosts Morocco.