The Malawi Queens netball team secured a convincing 82-22 victory over Nigeria's Green Hawks in their third Pool 2 fixture at the Africa Netball Cup in Nairobi, Kenya. This win marked their third consecutive triumph in the tournament, allowing them to qualify for the semi-finals with a match to spare. The match took place at the Moi International Sports Centre, where the Queens demonstrated their dominance on the court.
The victory also means the Malawi National Netball Team has qualified for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia. The Africa Netball Cup serves as the continent's qualifier for the global showpiece, and the Queens' performance has earned them a spot in the tournament. This achievement is significant, as only two automatic qualification slots were allocated to African teams at the World Cup. The Queens' qualification comes after they finished as Africa Netball Cup runners-up in 2022.
The Malawi Queens' success in the tournament is notable, given that they are currently ranked eighth in the world. Their opponents in the semi-finals, South Africa and Uganda, are ranked fifth and sixth in the world, respectively. These teams have already secured automatic qualification for the World Cup based on their top-six world rankings. The Queens will play Uganda's She Cranes in their last group match at noon tomorrow.
The Malawi Queens' coach, Debbie Fuller, made one change to the starting seven for the match against Nigeria, with goalkeeper Sophilet Banda replacing Shabel Bengo. The team included Australia-based shooter Mwawi Kumwenda, goal-attacker Tendai Masamba, and wing-attacker Takondwa Lwazi, who is also the captain. Other players in the starting lineup were centre Melia Soko, wing-defender Aisha Gama, and goal-defender Martha Dambo.
The Queens dominated play against Nigeria, leading 21-6 in the first quarter and increasing their tally to 40-11 at half-time. They continued to build on their lead, reaching 61-15 in the third segment before registering the 60-basket victory. This win follows their previous victories over Zambia and hosts Kenya in the opening group matches.
The Malawi Queens' qualification for the Netball World Cup is a significant achievement, especially considering that they have earned a slot for the global showpiece through the qualifiers for the second time. Previously, they had always made it automatically for being within the top-six rankings. This demonstrates the team's growth and progress in the sport.
The Malawi Queens will look to continue their winning streak in their last group match against Uganda's She Cranes. A strong performance in the semi-finals will be crucial for the team as they aim to make a mark in the tournament. With their current form and momentum, the Queens are expected to be a strong contender for the title.
Key points
- Malawi Queens qualify for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
- The team secured a convincing 82-22 victory over Nigeria's Green Hawks.
- The Queens will play Uganda's She Cranes in their last group match tomorrow at noon.
