Founded2006
CountryNamibia
ConfederationCAF
Number of teams26-39
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toNamibia Premier Football League
Relegation toRegional Second Division

The First Division is the second-tier association football league in Namibia. It operates under the auspices of the Namibia Football Association.

Organization

The First Division is divided into the Northern Stream (NSFD) and the Southern Stream (SSFD), each consisting of 13 teams from their respective regions.[1][2] For some seasons the Northern Stream has been divided into separate North East and North West streams.[3]

The Northern Stream includes clubs from the Caprivi, Kavango, Oshana, Omusati, Kunene, Otjozondjupa, Ohangwena, and Oshikoto regions.[1]

The Southern Stream includes clubs located in Khomas, Omaheke, Erongo, Hardap, and Karas regions.[2]

Promotion and relegation

The winners of both the Northern and Southern Streams are promoted to the Namibia Premier Football League. The three lowest placed teams from each stream are relegated to the Regional Second Division.[1]

History

The league began operating under the now-defunct Namibia Premier League for the 2006/07 season.[3] In 2021 the league returned from a hiatus of over three years caused by troubles at the NFA and the COVID-19 pandemic. For this special transitional tournament, the league was divided into four streams: Southern, Coastal, Inland, and Central.[4][5]

Champions

SeasonStream
Northern Southern
2006/07[6] Windhoek Hotspurs Fedics United
2007/08[7] Chief Santos Windhoek Hotspurs
2008/09[8] United Stars Blue Waters
2009/10[9] Mighty Gunners Blue Boys
2010/11[10] United Stars Monitronics Success College
2011/12[10] Rundu Chiefs[11] Tura Magic[12]
2012/13[13] United Stars Blue Boys
Northwest Northeast Southern
2013/14[14] Benfica Touch & Go Citizens
2014/15[15] Young Chiefs Rundu Chiefs Flamingos
2015/16[16] Life Fighters[17] Chief Santos[18] Young African[17]
2016/17[19] Unknown
2017/18[20] Military School Okahandja Julinho Sporting Young Brazilians
2018/19[21] Unknown
2019/20[22] Not held
2020/21[23]
2021/22[24]
2022/23[25] Okakarara Young Warriors Eeshoke Chula Chula Khomas Nampol

    References

    1. 1 2 3 "Northern Stream First Division". Namibia Football Association (NFA). Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    2. 1 2 "Southern Stream First Division". Namibia Football Association (NFA). Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    3. 1 2 Hembapu, Otniel. "FNB could divert sponsorship to First Division…as NPL agreement lapses". Neweralive.com. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    4. ↑ Hembapu, Otniel. "First Division football returns". New Era Live. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    5. ↑ Kaurasia, Jesse Jackson. "First Division Resurrected". Namibian Sun. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    6. ↑ Courtney, Barrie. "Namibia 2006/07". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    7. ↑ Mücke, Mark. "Namibia 2007/08". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    8. ↑ King, Ian; Mücke, Mark. "Namibia 2008/09". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    9. ↑ King, Ian; Mücke, Mark. "Namibia 2009/10". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    10. 1 2 King, Ian. "Namibia 2010/11". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    11. ↑ "First Division Football Comes to an End". Namibia Economist. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
    12. ↑ Nikodemus, Sheefeni. "Chiefs, Magic Plot NPL Assault". The Namibian. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
    13. ↑ Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2012/13". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    14. ↑ King, Ian; Schoggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2013/14". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    15. ↑ Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2014/15". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
    16. ↑ Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2015/16". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
    17. 1 2 "Young African Gains Promotion". The Namibian Sun. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
    18. ↑ "All three 'Chiefs' relegated from NPL … promotions still undetermined". New Era. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
    19. ↑ Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2016/17". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
    20. ↑ Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2017/18". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    21. ↑ Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2018/19". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    22. ↑ Schöggl, Hans. "Namibia 2019/20". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    23. ↑ King, Ian; Schöggl, Hans. "Namibia 2021". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
    24. ↑ Schöggl, Hans. "Namibia 2022". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
    25. ↑ Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2022/23". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
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