South Africa has booked their place in the men's final of the 2026 Africa Netball Cup after defeating Malawi 50-40. The match took place at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi on the fourth day of the tournament. South Africa remains unbeaten, having previously thumped Eswatini, Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi. Their assistant coach, Siyabonga Khuzwayo, expressed satisfaction with their campaign but emphasized the need to address mistakes before the final.
Malawi captain Arnold Khobiri praised South Africa, acknowledging that mistakes proved costly for his team. He noted that Malawi will focus on correcting errors and improving strengths before their next match against Uganda. Khobiri expressed optimism about Malawi's future, citing the team's young players and improvement since their debut in the last edition of the tournament. Malawi started as the Malawi Kings during the 2025 edition held in Malawi.
Kenya Net Kings face a do-or-die fixture against Eswatini on Wednesday, with a win potentially securing a spot in the final. Coach Peter Oloo's team has lost twice and won once, similar to Uganda, while Eswatini has lost once. South Africa's undefeated status means a Kenyan victory would depend on goal difference to determine their place in the final. Eswatini boosted their chances with a 41-38 win over Uganda in a tightly contested encounter.
Eswatini's head coach, Vilane Jabulani, credited tactical adjustments and video analysis for their victory over Uganda. He highlighted the importance of understanding each player's strengths and neutralizing them on court. Jabulani acknowledged that their next match against Kenya will be challenging but emphasized the need to take one match at a time. Uganda's assistant coach, Abalo Florence, admitted that her team failed to capitalize on opportunities, citing their inability to maintain momentum and punish Eswatini's errors.
In the women's competition, Kenya Divas dismissed Nigeria 61-40 before losing 55-47 to Malawi. They will face Uganda on Tuesday evening, coached by Zimbabwean head coach Tapiwa Chirenda and assistant coach Evelyn Jerono. The men's cup features five countries: Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Eswatini, and defending champions South Africa. The women's competition has 10 teams divided into two pools, with South Africa and Uganda already securing automatic qualification for the 2027 Women's Netball World Cup.
Zambia kept their hopes alive with a 63-44 victory over Nigeria, setting up a crucial Wednesday clash with Kenya Divas for a place in the semi-finals. Zambia's head coach, Lazarus Tembo, described the win as an important step ahead of the Kenya clash, which is vital for their World Cup contention. Zambia captain Beauty Nakazwe emphasized her team's readiness to handle pressure from the home crowd and work on mistakes made during the Nigeria match.
The 2026 Africa Netball Cup has seen intense competition, with teams vying for spots in the finals and World Cup qualification. South Africa's assistant coach, Siyabonga Khuzwayo, expressed his team's determination to win the final and bring the cup home. Other teams, including Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, and Zambia, are working to correct mistakes, improve their strengths, and capitalize on opportunities to advance in the tournament.
Key points
- South Africa secured their place in the 2026 Africa Netball Cup final.
- Kenyan teams face do-or-die matches to advance in the tournament.
- Zambia and Kenya Divas will clash on Wednesday for a spot in the women's semi-finals.
