Namibia Premiership

Namibia Premiership
Organising bodyNamibia Football Association
Founded2020
First season2022–23
Country Namibia
ConfederationCAF
Number of clubs16
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toFirst Division
Domestic cup(s)Namibia FA Cup
International cup(s)CAF Champions League
CAF Confederation Cup
Current championsAfrican Stars (2)
Most championshipsAfrican Stars (2)
Current: 2024–25 Namibia Premiership

The Namibia Premiership, or the Debmarine Namibia Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is the highest level of domestic association football in Namibia. It operates under the auspices of the Namibia Football Association.[1]

History

After ongoing financial and organizational problems with the Namibia Premier League (NPL), the Namibia Football Association expelled the league and founded a new top-flight league themselves following the 2018–19 season.[2][3]

Despite a planned debut season in 2021, the league finally played its first season in 2022-23 after securing major sponsorship funding.[1] Originally called the Namibia Premier Football League, the league was renamed the Namibia Premiership with the significant sponsorship of N$13 million provided by Debmarine.[4][5]

Following the 2023–24 season, the Namibia Football Association addressed the long-time issue of clubs with shared ownership competing in the same league. Beginning with the 2024–25 season, the practice would no longer be allowed. The debate had begun a season earlier with Mighty Gunners and Military School Okahandja, both operated by the Namibian Defence Force, set to compete in the Premiership. The issue was solved with the sale and rebranding of the club to Okahandja United. The issue arose again in summer 2024 when Khomas NAMPOL and Namibia Correctional Service were set to compete in the top-flight. Because of the new policy, Namibian Correctional Service FC were not promoted and were replaced by First Division South runners-up Blue Boys.[6]

Clubs

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NPFL teams 2024/25
2024–2025 Namibia Premiership
Team Location Stadium Capacity
African Stars Katutura Sam Nujoma Stadium 10,300
Blue Boys Swakopmund Mondesa Stadium 2,000
Blue Waters Walvis Bay Kuisebmund Stadium 4,000
Eeshoke Chula Chula Oshikango Oshakati Independence Stadium 8,000
Civics Khomasdal Khomasdal Stadium 2,000
Cuca Tops Rundu Rundu Sports Stadium 500
Julinho Sporting Rundu Rundu Sports Stadium 500
Khomas NAMPOL Windhoek UNAM Stadium 3,000
KK Palace Ondangwa Oshakati Independence Stadium 8,000
Mighty Gunners Otjiwarongo Mokati Stadium 1,000
Okahandja United Okahandja Nau-AIB Stadium 1,000
Ongos SC Windhoek Sam Nujoma Stadium 10,300
United Africa Tigers Windhoek Sam Nujoma Stadium 10,300
UNAM Windhoek UNAM Stadium 3,000
Young Africans Gobabis Legare Stadium 5,000
Young Brazilians Karasburg Karasburg Stadium 1,000

Champions

Season Champion Runners-up Top Scorer(s) Club Goals
2022–23[7] African Stars Blue Waters Namibia Willy Stephanus[8] African Stars 20
2023–24[9] African Stars Ongos Valley Namibia Willy Stephanus[10]
Namibia Rewaldo Prins[11] 		African Stars
Khomas NAMPOL 		16
2024–25

References

  1. ^ a b "From Premier League to Premiership: Namibian top-flight league faces turbulence". FIFA. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Namibia football starts new chapter. Southern Times, 11 December 2020". Archived from the original on 13 December 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  3. ^ ""Homeless" NPL refuses to yield. The Namibian, 22 December 2020". Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Debmarine Namibia Premiership". Namibian Football Association. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Premiership Action Returns Courtesy of Denmark e". Namibia Economist. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  6. ^ Tuerijama, John. "NFA addressing sister clubs in one league". The Namibian. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  7. ^ Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2022/23". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  8. ^ Kambukwe, Maurice. "Stars lift Debmarine Premiership trophy… Oshaala FC, Eleven Arrows, Citizens relegated". New Era. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  9. ^ Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2023/24". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  10. ^ Munango, Brian. "Stars Back to Back Champions". The Namibian Sun. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Benjamin happy with players' movement abroad". New Era Live. Retrieved 15 July 2024.