Tunisia Faces Namibia in Key World Cup Qualifier Match

Rades, Tunisia – Tunisia is set to battle Namibia in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match on Monday at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 PM CAT.

The Carthage Eagles have been on a roll, extending their winning streak to five matches after defeating Sao Tome and Principe 6-0 on October 10. They remain undefeated in Group H, boasting eight wins and one draw, leading the standings by ten points over Namibia.

With a spot in the World Cup finals already secured, Tunisia aims to complete their successful qualifying campaign with a victory over Namibia. In contrast, Namibia’s performance has been shaky, suffering their second loss in three matches after a 3-1 defeat to Liberia on October 9, despite having previously bested Sao Tome and Principe.

Although Namibia cannot qualify directly for the World Cup, they are vying for one of the four best runners-up positions to reach the playoffs. A win against Tunisia would enhance their chances, contingent on favorable outcomes in other matches.

In team news, Tunisia midfielder Moataz Naffati is doubtful due to injury, having missed the previous game against Sao Tome and Principe. Namibia will be without defender Sergio Damaseb, who is also sidelined due to injury.

Head coach Sami Trabelsi of Tunisia expressed pride in his players, stating, “I have to give credit to my players for their tactical discipline and dedication… We’re looking to beat Namibia and every friendly is important.”

On the other side, Namibia head coach Collin Benjamin emphasized the value of the experience for his younger players. “We have to play Tunisia… We’re going to analyze what we did wrong and what we can improve, and then on Monday, we take on Tunisia,” he said.

The historic rivalry between the two teams shows Tunisia’s advantage, having won three out of their five encounters since their first match in April 1997. Their most recent clash ended in a 0-0 draw during the qualifiers in June 2024.