Petro Atlético de Luanda from Angola emerged victorious in the 4-Nation Pre-Season Tournament held over two days in Windhoek, Namibia, after edging Liolis FC 5-4 on penalties in a thrilling final that ended 2-2 in regulation time.
The friendly competition brought together clubs from four countries, Namibia’s African Stars FC, Angola’s Petro Atlético de Luanda, Lesotho’s Liolis FC, and DR Congo’s AS Maniema Union. The initiative was praised as a step forward for Namibian football, providing clubs with high-level preparation ahead of the new season.
The opening fixture saw Lionis FC defeat AS Maniema Union 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. In the second match, hosts African Stars faced Petro de Luanda but suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat.
The third-place playoff ended with AS Maniema Union overcoming African Stars 1-0. Despite enjoying almost equal possession, the Namibian champions were undone by a defensive error that gifted Maniema the winning goal. The result left the “Okaserandu Boys” at the bottom of the table with no wins, no goals scored, and two conceded.
Reflecting on the performance, African Stars coach Bob Mafoso admitted his side lacked creativity and composure in attack. “We didn’t create many chances, and I’m worried that we didn’t score. These matches were our first real pre-season test, and while I’m not happy with the results, there are positives to take forward,” Mafoso said.
Maniema Union’s coach, Kimoti Papy, commended the tournament as a valuable experience but noted that the pitch conditions affected their usual playing style. “It was a good initiative and we would gladly return if invited again,” he stated.
For African Stars, the focus now shifts to their CAF Champions League campaign, where they will meet Uganda’s Vipers FC on 19 September (first leg) and 26 September (second leg).
The tournament ended with Petro Atlético de Luanda lifting the trophy, leaving a mark on what is hoped to become an annual showcase of regional football talent in Namibia.
