NFA Can’t Manage to Pay N$320 000 Hotel Bill, Now Players Demand N$620 000 in Outstanding Bonuses
The Namibia Football Association (NFA) is facing mounting financial pressure after struggling to settle a N$320 000 hotel bill for the Brave Warriors in Cameroon, while players are demanding N$620 000 in outstanding bonuses ahead of their crucial fixtures.
The financial situation reportedly left the national team in a difficult position on Tuesday night after the association failed to transfer the money needed to pay for the team’s accommodation.
The situation also affected the players’ meals, with the team reportedly going without proper dinner on Tuesday night and breakfast on Wednesday morning.
NFA acting secretary general Patrick “Mabos” Vries acknowledged that the association was unable to meet the payment because of its financial difficulties. He indicated that the hotel bill had eventually been settled, although the association continues to struggle financially.
The situation was resolved after Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o intervened and paid the outstanding hotel bill.
However, the hotel bill is not the only financial concern facing the association. The Brave Warriors players are reportedly threatening to boycott their upcoming match over N$620 000 in unpaid bonuses from previous encounters against Russia, Comoros and the Republic of Congo.
Vries confirmed that the players are still owed the money, explaining that the association currently does not have sufficient funds to settle the outstanding payments.
The financial challenges have also raised concerns about the team’s morale ahead of its important qualifying fixtures, with Namibia needing positive results to keep their hopes of reaching the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations alive.
In an attempt to address its financial difficulties, the NFA reportedly approached the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture last month, requesting financial assistance to support the national team. However, the ministry has yet to act on the request.
On the field, Namibia began their qualifying campaign with a 1-0 victory over the Republic of Congo on 24 September at the Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone. Bethuel Muzeu scored the winning goal two minutes into the second half.
The Brave Warriors suffered their first setback on 29 September, losing 1-0 to Comoros in Moroni. Bendjaloud Youssouf scored the only goal of the match in the 53rd minute.
Namibia are scheduled to face Cameroon today, 12 November, at 21:00 Namibian time before meeting the same opponents again on 16 November 2026.
With the NFA struggling to meet its financial obligations and players still waiting for their bonuses, the situation has added further pressure to the Brave Warriors’ preparations for two important encounters in their qualification campaign.
About the Author
Karrel Hamutenya is a senior sports journalist at The Updated World, with more than five years of experience reporting on local sport in Namibia and international sports news.His work covers match reports, transfer updates, and exclusive interviews with athletes, providing fans with deeper insight into the game and the people behind it.
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