By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Hangala
The City of Windhoek Council has approved a proposal by the Namibia Football Association (NFA) to upgrade the Sam Nujoma Stadium to meet international standards set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA.
The City decided this during the Ordinary Council Meeting of the Municipal Council of Windhoek, held on Monday, 10 November 2025
Instead of selling the stadium as proposed, the Council decided to contribute to 50% of the stadium upgrades to meet international standards.
“Council approved a 50/50 cost-sharing arrangement for the structural upgrades, estimated at N$19,926,266.00 (including VAT),” the City updated.
The stadium was banned in 2021 from hosting international matches after it was found not to meet the required standards.
NFA had initially requested that the stadium be donated or leased to them, but the Council declined, emphasising that the facility remains a key municipal asset.
The City also revealed that it has already allocated its portion of the funds, appointed a contractor, and officially handed over the site on 2 October 2025. The NFA, however, has faced financial challenges, prompting the sports ministry to explore possible funding support.
Once completed, the upgraded stadium will once again enable Namibia to host CAF and FIFA-sanctioned matches. This will revive national football, boost local economic activity, and reaffirm Windhoek’s status as a hub for major sporting events.
Namibia currently plays its home games in Botswana, shifting from South Africa, after claiming that it was too expensive (N$1.4 million per match). This is after the Botswana Football Association (BFA) agreed to host Namibia’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown.
Under NDP 6, the government plans to improve sports infrastructure at all levels to compliance standards. These plans aim to indirectly and directly contribute to economic development and align Namibia to the international level of hosting games, improving the nation’s ranking in sport infrastructure and sport tourism.
Additionally, the plans look to support and improve fitness and physical activity programmes and create a conducive environment for sport businesses to thrive, creating employment and achieving SDGs and socio-economic development objectives.
