Harare, 2 October 2025 — Namibia secured qualification for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in emphatic fashion, defeating Tanzania by 63 runs in the first semi-final of the Africa Region Final at Harare Sports Club. Their victory not only guarantees their place in the global tournament, but also underscores their dominance in the African qualifying phase.

Match Highlights & Turning Points

• Batting first, Namibia posted a competitive total of 174 for 6 in their 20 overs.
• The innings survived early trouble. Namibia lost four wickets in the powerplay, putting them in a fragile position.
• That’s when Captain Gerhard Erasmus and JJ Smit steadied the ship. Erasmus played a composed 55 off 41 deliveries, while Smit exploded at the end with an unbeaten 61 off 43.
• In the bowlers’ department, Smit also starred—claiming 3 wickets for 16 runs—and Ben Shikongo supported with 3 for 21.
• Tanzania’s chase began sluggishly and they never recovered momentum. They ended with 111 for 8, falling well short of the target.

What This Qualification Means

• With this win, Namibia becomes the 16th team confirmed for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
• It will be their fourth consecutive appearance at the T20 World Cup (2021, 2022, 2024, now 2026).
• The African qualifiers still have one more slot: the second semi-final, between Zimbabwe and Kenya, will determine who joins Namibia from Africa.