Brave Gladiators Fall Short as Zambia Seals AFCON Qualification

Brave Gladiators Fall Short as Zambia Seals AFCON Qualification. Namibia’s Brave Gladiators have seen their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) dreams come to an end following a 3-0 defeat to Zambia in the second leg of the final qualification round. The loss sealed a 7-2 aggregate scoreline, ending Namibia’s campaign against one of the continent’s top-ranked teams.

Zambia’s Copper Queens continued their impressive run of form, securing a place at the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco — marking their fourth consecutive qualification for the tournament. The Zambian side previously featured in the 2018, 2022, and 2024 editions, with their debut appearance coming in 2014.

Despite showing moments of promise in the first leg, where Namibia found the net twice in a 4-2 defeat, the Brave Gladiators were unable to recover in the return fixture. Zambia’s experience and attacking quality proved decisive, as they dominated possession and converted key opportunities in front of goal.

For Namibia, the result is a setback but also a reminder of the progress made in women’s football over recent years. The Brave Gladiators have earned praise for their determination and improved competitiveness on the international stage, and attention will now turn to building for future regional and continental tournaments.

The Football Association of Namibia (FAN) is expected to review the campaign and focus on strengthening youth development structures to ensure sustained progress in women’s football.