Africa Netball Championship Concludes with Call for Unity and Stronger Foundations

The 2026 Africa Netball Cup in Nairobi concluded with Uganda crowned continental champions after defeating South Africa 56–53 in the final, bringing an exciting week of African netball to a close at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.

The tournament, which also served as Africa’s pathway towards the Sydney 2027 Netball World Cup, brought together leading teams from across the continent. 

Speaking during the closing ceremony, Africa Netball Acting President Rebekka Goagoses called for greater unity, shared responsibility and stronger foundations to drive the development of the sport across Africa.

“Africa is at a crossroads, and we need to rise together. Real leadership is shared collective responsibility. No single African country can grow netball alone; we must carry it together to lead the continent forward and rise above the noise.” She said.

Goagoses also urged leaders and stakeholders to focus on building the game rather than engaging in divisions and criticism.

“There is no room for pointing fingers because words don’t build players. When leaders belittle one another, it is the sport that bleeds. Let us unite and speak with one voice. Our unity is not a preference but our ultimate force.”

She called for the continent to focus on creating a lasting legacy for the sport.

“Let us build an African netball legacy that will outshine all.”

Lessons from the qualification process

The Nairobi tournament also exposed challenges around the decision to combine the Africa Netball Cup with the Sydney 2027 World Cup qualification competition.

World Netball had confirmed before the tournament that South Africa and Uganda had already qualified for the 2027 World Cup through their world ranking, meaning their participation affected the qualification pathway for the remaining teams. Malawi and Namibia subsequently secured invitations to the 2027 World Cup after reaching the qualification semi-finals. 

The format generated confusion among participating nations and stakeholders, prompting Africa Netball to issue a clarification. The continental body acknowledged that combining the two competitions had proved impractical and stated that future tournaments would not accommodate countries that had already qualified for the World Cup alongside teams competing for qualification. 

From development to sustainability

Goagoses brings considerable development experience to her current role. She previously served as Vice President for Development at Africa Netball, where her work focused on expanding participation and strengthening emerging federations.

As Acting President, her responsibilities now extend beyond participation and development to include the commercial sustainability and broader growth of African netball.

With the Nairobi championship now concluded, the message from Africa Netball's leadership is clear: the continent's next chapter will require stronger collaboration, clearer structures and a shared commitment to developing the game at every level.