Malawi Freedom Network 
By Malawi Freedom Network
Malawi’s national netball team, the Queens, are set for another major continental test as preparations intensify for the African Netball Cup, with the team’s performance in Kenya carrying huge implications for their hopes of reaching the 2027 Netball World Cup.
The Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) says preparations for the tournament will officially get underway on 8 September, ahead of the competition scheduled for 19–26 September in Kenya.
The Queens will face some of Africa’s strongest netball nations, including South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania, in what promises to be a highly competitive tournament.
For Malawi, however, this is more than simply another continental championship.
It is a World Cup qualification opportunity.
According to NAM general secretary Yamikani Kauma, the tournament is particularly important because a strong performance could secure Malawi a place at the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia.
Kauma told MIJ Online that the Queens will leave Malawi on 13 September, giving the team several days to settle in and complete final preparations before the tournament begins.
As part of their preparations, the Queens are also expected to play two international practice matches against two countries before entering the main competition.
The matches are expected to provide coach and players with an opportunity to assess their readiness, identify weaknesses and sharpen their tactical approach before the pressure of the African Netball Cup begins.
From Glasgow to Kenya
The Queens head into the tournament after recently competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, where they finished seventh.
That campaign gave Malawi valuable exposure against some of the world’s leading netball nations and offered the team an opportunity to measure itself at the highest level.
The challenge now is to turn that experience into results on African soil.
The Queens will need consistency, discipline and mental strength if they are to navigate a tournament featuring several familiar continental rivals.
Teams such as South Africa and Uganda have established themselves among Africa’s netball powerhouses, while Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania will also provide significant opposition.
For Malawi, every match could therefore carry enormous significance.
A chance to return to the World Cup stage
Qualification for the 2027 Netball World Cup would represent another major milestone for Malawi netball.
The Queens have built a strong reputation on the African continent over the years, and securing another World Cup appearance would give the team an opportunity to compete against the world’s best once again.
But first, they must negotiate what is expected to be a fiercely contested African Netball Cup.
The tournament will also provide an early opportunity for the Queens to demonstrate whether their experience from Glasgow has strengthened the squad ahead of another demanding international assignment.
With preparations beginning on 8 September and departure scheduled for 13 September, attention is now turning to Kenya.
The message from NAM is clear: the stakes are high, and the Queens cannot afford to waste the opportunity.
Malawi will be hoping that the experience gained in Glasgow, combined with focused preparations at home and international practice matches before the tournament, can produce the results needed to secure a place at the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia.
For the Queens, Kenya is not simply another tournament.
It could be the road to Australia.
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