The Malawi Queens national netball team put up a gallant fight but ultimately lost to Uganda with a score of 54-49 in their last Africa Netball Cup Pool 2 match held in Nairobi, Kenya. Despite the loss, the team showed resilience and determination, with captain Takondwa Lwazi expressing pride in the team's performance. The Queens struggled in the first quarter, trailing 19-4, but managed to narrow the gap in the subsequent quarters.
The match saw the Queens face significant challenges, particularly in the initial stages. However, they demonstrated improvement in the second quarter, with both teams converting 15 baskets, resulting in a scoreline of 34-19 at half-time. The team's Australia-based shooter, Mwawi Kumwenda-M'bwana, and substitute goal-attacker, Florence Jeke, played crucial roles in the Queens' efforts to crawl back into the game.
The third quarter saw the Queens make significant strides, with Kumwenda-M'bwana and Jeke pulling the strings under the loop. The team's momentum continued into the last quarter, but it was too little too late to escape defeat, as they went down by five baskets. This loss marks the ninth time the Queens have lost to Uganda in their last 11 meetings.
Despite the loss, the Malawi Queens have qualified for the semi-finals, where they will face fifth-ranked defending champions South Africa. The semi-finals will also see sixth-ranked Uganda take on 14th-ranked Namibia in the other last-four clash. The Queens' expatriate coach, Debbie Fuller, maintained the starting seven that had previously demolished debutants Nigeria 82-22 in their previous group match.
The starting seven for the Malawi Queens included Kumwenda-M'bwana, goal-attacker Tendai Masamba, and wing attacker Lwazi, alongside centre Melia Soko, wing-defender Aisha Gama, goal-defender Martha Dambo, and goalkeeper Sophilet Banda. Lwazi, the Queens' captain, reflected on the match, stating that it was a tough game but the team put up a spirited fight, ultimately reducing the gap from 15 baskets to just four.
The Africa Netball Cup match was monitored on the Netball Africa website, www.africanetball.com. The Queens' performance in the tournament has been notable, with their match against Uganda being a closely contested encounter. The team's progress to the semi-finals is a testament to their skill and determination.
The Malawi Queens will face a tough challenge in the semi-finals against South Africa, who are the defending champions and currently ranked fifth in the world. The team's coach, Debbie Fuller, and the players will need to regroup and strategize to take on the champions and make a strong impression in the semi-finals.
Key points
- The Malawi Queens lost to Uganda 54-49 but still qualified for the semi-finals against South Africa.
- The team's captain, Takondwa Lwazi, expressed pride in the team's performance despite the loss.
- The Malawi Queens have faced significant challenges in their recent meetings with Uganda, losing nine out of their last 11 matches.
