The Brave Warriors suffered a 2-0 defeat to Kazakhstan’s national football team on Wednesday in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA Series international friendly matches in Astana.
Despite the result, head coach Collin Benjamin expressed satisfaction with his side’s overall performance, highlighting missed opportunities as the key difference.
“I think we had good chances to score, especially in the first half. My team showed good off-ball aggression and executed fast attacks. In the second half, it was much of the same; we had chances and could have done better,” said Benjamin.
Kazakhstan scored the first goal in the 11th minute and later scored from a set piece in the 80th minute before sealing the victory. Benjamin, however, felt the contest was evenly matched for large periods.
“In my opinion, it was a good game from both teams. We neutralised each other. The difference was taking chances and the opponent’s physical and athletic approach,” he said.
The match marked a significant test for Namibia against European opposition, something Benjamin believes is crucial for the team’s growth. Benjamin acknowledged the gap in experience and quality but remained encouraged by his team’s competitiveness.
He added that such matches are vital learning opportunities for the Brave Warriors.
Benjamin emphasised that the team would regroup and focus on improvement ahead of their next fixture.
Namibia will now turn their attention to their next match against the Comoros national football team on Sunday, 28 March 2026 at 14h00.