Hilma Nalupe
The Namibia Motorsport Federation (NMSF) has secured the bid to host the Motocross of African Nations (MXoAN) 2026, marking a major milestone for the country’s motorsport fraternity.
The announcement was made last weekend in Harare, Zimbabwe, following the conclusion of this year’s continental competition.
Affiliated with the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the global governing body for motorcycle racing, the NMSF falls under FIM Africa, which oversees continental events. Each year, FIM Africa stages the MXoAN, a team competition where countries enter riders across different classes, with each rider’s performance contributing to their national team’s overall score.
This year’s edition in Zimbabwe drew eight participating nations and featured 147 riders. Namibia, which placed fourth at this year’s championships, now has the opportunity to showcase not just its riders but also its organisational capabilities as the 2026 hosts.
According to Derek Jacobs, Secretary General of the NMSF, Namibia is aiming to raise the bar. “We are hoping to get more than eight countries here and more riders. Our target is 200 riders in Namibia. For motocross, this is a huge thing, it’s the most prestigious motocross event on the African continent.”
Jacobs believes Namibia is ready to embrace the challenge and deliver a world-class event, stating: “It’s a huge opportunity not just for our riders, but also to cement Namibia’s place as a serious motorsport destination in Africa.”
The road to hosting rights was competitive. Alongside Namibia, bids were submitted by Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa (which previously hosted in 2023). Namibia’s proposal won the nod, with the event now set for August 2026.
Hosting the MXoAN presents both opportunities and challenges. One of the main hurdles in recent years has been logistics, particularly for Northern African nations transporting equipment south, and vice versa. Despite these difficulties, Zimbabwe successfully stepped in to host the 2025 event after Kenya withdrew three months prior, earning praise for their swift and effective organisation.
In addition, Namibia’s involvement in Zimbabwe this year extended beyond competition. Local official Andreas Brendel, who serves on the FIM Africa Enduro Commission, was selected as chairman of the stewards. -hilmanalupe@gmail.com