Queens eye clean slate

Malawi Queens have vowed to win the Africa Netball Cup’s group stage despite facing higher-ranked Uganda in their last Pool 2 match this afternoon in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Malawi National Netball Team has only edged Uganda’s She Cranes twice in their last 10 meetings, including a 50-45 loss in their last match at the Netball Nations Cup in England last year.

However, Queens’ expatriate coach Debbie Fuller believes her side has what it takes to crack the tough nut at Moi International Sports Centre, buoyed by their excellent form that has seen Malawi registering three-straight wins against Zambia, Kenya and Nigeria in the group stage.

Queens’ goal attacker Tendai Masamba in a

previous match against Uganda. | Getty Images

She said:“The goal is always to win as we face Uganda. It is important that we prepare well for that game. We want to control things and that means winning.”

“Uganda has nothing to lose, having [automatically] qualified for the Netball World Cup. They want to assert their dominance in this competition while we want to take the Africa cup. We are looking forward to playing them since we didn’t have such a chance at the [recent] Commonwealth Games.”

Fuller said her team has improved a lot in terms of pace and endurance, attributes that will be vital to tear down the resistance of their taller opponents.

The Queens are also fired up with the availability of celebrated Australia-based shooter Mwawi Kumwenda-M’bwana, who is having her first appearance in the continental showpiece after missing out previous editions due to club commitments and logistical challenges.

According to the tournament’s format, as per the Netball World Cup 2027 Africa Regional Qualifier competition regulations, teams shall be ranked at the end of the pool (group) games by the total number of points they have received across all matches.

“Top-two positions in each pool will play in semi-final play offs. Teams shall play cross over games, between the two pools. Positions three to five in each pool shall play direct cross over for positions five to 10,” the copy of the regulations reads in part.

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