Namibia heads to 17th African Swimming Championships in Algeria
The Namibia Aquatic Sports Federation (Nasfed) has announced the participation of Team Namibia at the 17th African Swimming Championships, taking place in Oran, Algeria from 5–10 May 2026. This prestigious continental event, hosted under the banner of Africa Aquatics, brings together Africa’s best swimmers in both Junior and Senior categories, with Namibia fielding two teams. […] The post Namibia heads to 17th African Swimming Championships in Algeria appeared first on The Namibian.
Black News 
The Namibia Aquatic Sports Federation (Nasfed) has announced the participation of Team Namibia at the 17th African Swimming Championships, taking place in Oran, Algeria from 5–10 May 2026.
This prestigious continental event, hosted under the banner of Africa Aquatics, brings together Africa’s best swimmers in both Junior and Senior categories, with Namibia fielding two teams.
This year’s Championships are expected to attract over 400 swimmers from 41 countries, making it one of the largest editions in recent years. For the first time, the competition will also feature a novel inter-zonal event, where selected athletes will represent Africa’s four Aquatic Zones (I–IV) in pursuit of the inaugural “Zone Champion” title on the final day.
Namibia’s athletes:
Luke Beukes, Nathan Bock, Jose Canjulo, Lorenzo Esterhuizen, Victoria De Sousa, Lilia Ellis, Roselinda Matyayi, Trisha Mutumbula, Ainoa Naukosho, Ronan Wantenaar and Molina Smalley.
Namibia’s officials:
Team coach: Jane Samson, team manager: Cecilia Horsten
Team Namibia’s participation is made possible through the generous support of the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC), the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC), and NASFED via the World Aquatics Athletes Support Programme. Their commitment ensures Namibian swimmers have the opportunity to compete at the highest level and gain invaluable international experience.
Namibia has a proud tradition of producing record-breaking junior swimmers. In 2019, at just 13 years old, José Canjulo set a new African Junior record in the 400m Freestyle (4:14.45) at the Championships in Tunisia.
More recently, Oliver Durand broke the African Junior record in the 400m Individual Medley at the 2025 Championships in Egypt.
These achievements highlight Namibia’s ability to produce athletes capable of competing — and excelling — at continental level. With a new generation of swimmers now stepping onto the stage, the question remains: can history repeat itself in Oran?
The African Swimming Championships have historically been dominated by powerhouse nations such as South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and Kenya, creating a highly competitive environment for emerging teams like Namibia.
The event also serves as a vital qualifying and preparatory platform for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, giving Namibian athletes the chance to measure themselves against Africa’s elite.
“Namibia’s swimmers have demonstrated resilience, discipline, and passion throughout the season. Their selection reflects both their personal achievements and the federation’s commitment to developing aquatic sports in our country,” said Agata Mason, secretary general of Nasfed.
“We extend our gratitude to our sponsors and wish our athletes every success as they proudly carry the Namibian flag in Algeria.”
The post Namibia heads to 17th African Swimming Championships in Algeria appeared first on The Namibian.
