Windhoek: The University of Namibia (UNAM) men's football team and the Mighty Gunners women's team emerged victorious in the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Cup, securing championship titles following compelling performances at the Independence Stadium on Saturday.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the Mighty Gunners demonstrated a strong performance by winning the women's title, maintaining a record of not conceding any goals throughout the tournament. Under the guidance of coach Woody Jacobs, the team dominated the final match early on. Leena Alweendo scored an impressive first-half hat-trick, finding the net in the 35th, 40th, and 42nd minutes, providing a significant lead before halftime.
The victory was further cemented by Nicole Philander's long-range strike in the 51st minute, effectively quashing any hopes Khomas NamPol had of a comeback. Khomas NamPol found it challenging to compete with the Mighty Gunners' superiority, managing only a few scoring opportunities and ultimately settling for second place.
The men's final saw an exciting clash between UNAM and KK Palace. KK Palace had an early advantage, with Nchimunya Chindima scoring in the third minute by taking advantage of a corner kick that caught UNAM's defense off guard. However, UNAM equalized before the break with a header from Vinomaandero Kandjou, resulting in a 1-1 scoreline at halftime.
Despite KK Palace having several promising chances in the second half, their inability to convert opportunities into goals proved costly. Giovani Nauseb's goal in the final moments of stoppage time secured a dramatic win for UNAM, marking the club's first major trophy since entering Namibia's top-flight league.
Mighty Gunners head coach Woody Jacobs expressed pride in his team's achievement during a post-match interview with Nampa, emphasizing the players' determination and resilience. 'I am grateful to have lifted this trophy with Mighty Gunners. It was an honour to be on the touchline coaching this brilliant group of players who, just a month ago, narrowly missed out on the Premier League title. Today, they are celebrating as champions,' he stated.
UNAM head coach Robert Nauseb praised his players for their perseverance, acknowledging their efforts after narrowly missing the Standard Bank Top 8 title three weeks prior. 'Credit must go to the players. They fought until the final whistle against a very difficult opponent, and their determination was rewarded with a memorable victory,' he commented.