On Tuesday, Matchday 8 of the 2026 World Cup African qualifiers will feature Namibia hosting São Tomé and Príncipe at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek. Namibia aims to recover after a loss to Malawi, while São Tomé looks to play for pride. This match shows good potential for a favorable outcome.
Match preview
The “Brave Warriors” have had a strong qualifying campaign and currently hold second place in their group, keeping their World Cup hopes alive. Before their match against Malawi, Collin Benjamin’s team had been unbeaten but suffered a 1-2 loss at home, marking their first defeat in the qualifiers.
Namibia’s strength lies in their balanced gameplay. They typically score in matches and avoid high-scoring games, with most outcomes falling between two and four goals, showing their ability to manage the match’s pace.
On the other hand, the “Elephants” have struggled throughout the qualifiers, losing all seven matches and sitting at the bottom of the group. Their main challenge is a weak defense, allowing nearly two goals per game and failing to seriously challenge opposing teams.
Despite this, São Tomé has shown some promise in attack, as seen in their recent match against Equatorial Guinea (2-3). However, the overall trend is discouraging, with defeats accumulating and their chances of securing a draw fading.
Probable lineups
- Namibia: Ndjiiro K., Haraseb S. B., Hambira K., Kamburipa I., Eyeb K., Shidolo M., Amutenya P., Katuya N., Mujeu B., Livi A., Kamutuka J.
- São Tomé and Príncipe: Aldair Neves, Ivan Lima, Edgario, Gilson Costa, Leonildo Soares, Jair Nunes, Joazhifel Soares, Adjeil Neves, Denielson Silva, Harramiz Soares, Ricardo Cardoso
Match facts and head-to-head
- Namibia won their last meeting with São Tomé and Príncipe 2-0.
- São Tomé has lost all seven qualifiers this season, conceding 13 goals.
- Four of Namibia’s last five matches have seen between 2 and 4 goals scored.
Prediction
Namibia needs to take advantage of this match to strengthen their position in the table. The visitors, lacking the competitive edge, will focus on avoiding a significant loss. A confident win for Namibia is expected, likely with a moderate number of goals.
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