Kenya's men's netball team, the Net Kings, missed out on a medal for the second successive year after losing to Uganda in the bronze-medal playoff at the 2026 Africa Netball Cup. The match took place at Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, with Uganda securing a 46-35 victory. This loss means Kenya will again finish outside the medals, following their loss to Eswatini in the previous edition in Malawi in 2025.
The Net Kings started strong, with goal shooter Christovin Juma and goal attack Victor Mbithi putting Kenya 3-0 ahead. However, Uganda gradually regained control, capitalizing on Kenyan turnovers and lapses in possession to lead 12-10 at the end of the opening quarter. Uganda's coach, Asiimwe Jesse, noted that the result reflected the team's progress, having finished fifth the previous year.
Kenya struggled with ball retention in the second quarter as Uganda applied pressure across the court. A stolen pass intended for Mbithi and several misplaced long passes allowed Uganda to extend their advantage. Despite Mbithi and Juma finding the net, Kenya trailed 27-15 at halftime. The team's coach, Peter Oloo, will look to address these issues in future matches.
In the third quarter, Kenya attempted to fight back, with Juma and Mbithi scoring regularly. However, Uganda remained composed and punished turnovers to maintain control. Kenya trailed 36-24 heading into the final quarter. The Net Kings produced their strongest spell late in the match, with Mbithi scoring five times to reduce the deficit to 42-32 with five minutes remaining.
Despite a late surge, Kenya could not complete a comeback. A misplaced pass from Isaac Langat was intercepted by Uganda, and the Kenyan team could not capitalize on their final opportunities. Mbithi missed a late penalty as Uganda completed a 46-35 victory, securing their first medal in their second appearance at the African championship.
Kenya midfielder Stanley Benaia identified defensive cohesion as one of the team's biggest shortcomings. He noted that the team had relied too heavily on the goal defence and goalkeeper instead of defending collectively. Benaia called for a stronger bench and greater development of younger players to improve the team's performance in future tournaments.
Uganda's coach, Asiimwe Jesse, disclosed that his side deliberately sought to deny Kenya the aerial game while applying man-to-man defence. The strategy worked, giving Uganda their maiden medal. Jesse expressed excitement about winning the bronze medal and looked forward to competing for a gold medal in the next year's championship. The gold medal match will feature South Africa and Eswatini, while Kenya's women's team, the Divas, will face Zimbabwe in a fifth-place ranking match.
Key points
- Uganda secured their first medal in their second appearance at the African championship.
- Kenya missed out on a medal for the second successive year.
- The gold medal match will feature South Africa and Eswatini.
