The country’s U-17 girls' team faced a tough challenge against Uganda’s U-17 side last month, losing 18-1 on aggregate in the 2025 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Despite the heavy defeat, defender Shiwaovanhu Haukongo showed bravery and courage for the Namibian team.

Haukongo, a 16-year-old attacker for FNB Women Super League (WSL) side Eleven Arrows, scored Namibia’s only goal across the two legs. This goal came in the second leg, which Uganda won 8-1.

Haukongo, a grade 9 student at De Duine Secondary School in Walvis Bay, said her goal against Uganda has made her feel like a celebrity.

She started playing football at the age of 12 and has been dedicated to the sport ever since.

“I enjoy playing football, and I find it interesting as it keeps me busy,” said Haukongo. “My favorite international player is Vinícius Júnior (of Real Madrid and Brazil) because I like the way he plays. As a girl playing football, I just wanted to show boys that it’s not only for them. Not everyone has something good to say about girls who play football. I feel like a celebrity at school after scoring the goal against Uganda, and this has also inspired other girls to play football.”

Namibia traveled to Uganda, having trained for only a week. Both their away and "home" matches were played there, as their home stadium in Namibia was deemed unfit. Playing in South Africa was also not possible due to financial constraints within the NFA.

“I think we would have done much better if we had been fitter because we only trained for about a week,” Haukongo explained. “We didn’t get used to playing with each other since we all come from different teams and places. When we played, it was as if we were afraid of one another, despite being teammates. The coach (Hafeni Ndeitunga) encouraged us not to let Uganda dominate and reminded us that we are better than them.”

The surname Haukongo is familiar in Namibian football. Lubeni Haukongo, a professional footballer also from Swakopmund, has played for the Brave Warriors and professionally in South Africa for Cape Town Spurs and Chippa United, and in France for Lille B.

Ironically, Lubeni and Shiwaovanhu are not related. However, she said she is happy to share a surname with him.

“I can actually play any position except goalkeeper, and I'm more comfortable on the right wing,” said Haukongo. “I’m not related to Lubeni, but I would love to be. I do know him; I met him once at the NFA (soccer house). I didn't realize he was Lubeni Haukongo until I saw him on social media. I was thrilled because it was the first time I had met someone with the same surname, and especially someone who is a footballer.”