The Namibia Football Association (NFA) has finalised a landmark agreement with the Russian Football Union that will see the Brave Warriors square off against Russia in an international friendly on 3 October in Yekaterinburg.
Confirming the deal on Tuesday, the NFA highlighted the fixture as atest for the senior men’s national team as they continue to build momentum on the international stage.
Brave Warriors Head Coach Collin Benjamin welcomed the clash, emphasizing the critical value of testing his squad against top-tier global opposition outside the continent.
“These are the kind of competitive exposure our players need regularly to increase the pressure, the experience and competitiveness, making them ready to face their peers at continental level in the CAF/Africa Cup of Nations,” Benjamin said in a statement on Tuesday.
He noted that traveling to play a highly rated national team in an unfamiliar environment will play a major role in the group’s ongoing tactical and mental development.
While current FIFA and UEFA sanctions prevent Russia from competing in official international tournaments, non-competitive friendly matches remain permitted—opening the door for this rare cross-continental encounter for the Namibian side.
