Uganda’s She Cranes are braced for a monumental test against Namibia in the semifinals of the 2026 Africa Netball Cup after edging the Malawi Queens 53-49 in a tense Pool 2 finale at the Kasarani Indoor Arena on Wednesday.

The nervy victory on September 23 saw the She Cranes finish top of Pool 2 with an unbeaten record, setting up a semifinal meeting with second-placed Namibia from Pool 1 on Friday, September 25.

Uganda had earlier swept aside Nigeria 68-30, Zambia 59-40 and hosts Kenya 62-42 before completing their flawless pool campaign against a spirited Malawi side.

The semifinal pairing was determined by the competition format, with the winners of each pool taking on the runners-up from the opposite pool. Uganda’s eight points put them at the top of Pool 2, with Malawi finishing second on six points. 

In Pool 1, South Africa also collected eight points to finish top, while Namibia settled for second on six. South Africa’s position was reinforced by their 55-33 victory over Namibia in their recent Pool 1 match, a 22-goal margin that kept the South Africans top on goal difference.

That means Uganda will now meet Namibia, while South Africa take on Malawi in the other semi-final.

The semifinals will be played on Friday, September 25, with the final scheduled for Saturday, September 26. The remaining teams will compete in placement matches.

2027 Netball World Cup

The tournament, being held in Nairobi, is not only the 2026 Africa Netball Cup but also serves as the official African regional qualifier for the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027.

Uganda and South Africa, however, have already secured places at the 2027 global showpiece through their world rankings. 

South Africa are ranked fifth in the world, while Uganda are sixth. Consequently, should Uganda and South Africa both reach the Africa Netball Cup final, an arrangement will be made to determine another African representative for the 2027 Netball World Cup. The Sydney tournament will run from Wednesday, August 25 to Sunday, September 5, 2027, in Australia.

As of September 2026, 10 countries have secured their places for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia. 

The qualified teams include the host nation, top-ranked global teams via World Netball rankings, and winners from the Asia and Oceania regional qualifiers. Specifically, Australia qualified as the Host Nation; New Zealand, Jamaica, England, South Africa, and Uganda qualified through World Netball Rankings; Singapore and Hong Kong secured their spots as Asia Qualifiers; and Samoa and Tonga advanced as Oceania Qualifiers.

A total of 16 nations will participate in the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia, with 6 nations currently playing their qualifiers.

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Commonwealth Games 2026 (Netball):

• Wales 50-59 Uganda

Uganda She Cranes beat Wales 59-50 during a preliminary round of the Netball contest at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Saturday, 25th July.

Uganda led the first quarter 15-13 but Wales clawed back to lead 31-28 by the half-time mark.

The East Africans restored their lead by close of the third quarter 45-39 and winded down the business 59-50 at the end of the game.

Uganda She Cranes line up:

• Isoto Winnie (GoalScorer)
• Shadia Nassaga (Goal-Attacker)
• Rachel Nanyonga (Wing-Attacker)
• Joan Reykboth (Center)
• Nassimu Mutesi (Wing Defence)
• Ayaa Gloria (Goal Defender)
• Shaffie Nalwajja (GoalKeeper)

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As the global sports landscape continues to evolve, the rise of women in leadership has become one of the most defining shifts.

In the wake of International Women’s Day, the story of Rebekka Goagoses offers a compelling portrait of that transformation – a leader whose journey reflects both the progress of women’s sport in the African continent and the work still to be done.

From her early days as a player in Namibia to her current role as Acting President of Africa Netball, Goagoses has built her career on a deep understanding of the game.

Recognised as Namibia’s Netball Player of the Year in 2005, she entered administration with a perspective shaped by lived experience on the court.

“Understanding the game from a player’s perspective keeps leadership grounded and ensures that athlete welfare and development remain a priority,” said Goagoses.

Her transition into governance in the early 2010s marked the beginning of a steady rise through the administrative ranks.

At Netball Namibia, where she served in key roles including Vice President for Marketing and later President, Goagoses focused on strengthening structures and improving the visibility of the sport.

Her leadership coincided with a period of rebuilding, where the priority shifted towards creating sustainable systems that could support both players and commercial growth.

“The challenge was to move beyond short-term thinking and position netball as a viable product for investment,” said Goagoses, noting that this required structured competitions, improved infrastructure and a clearer value proposition for sponsors.

This approach reflects a broader global trend. Women’s sport is experiencing unprecedented growth, with expanding audiences and increasing commercial investment driving its evolution into a multi-billion-dollar industry. Revenue is projected to surpass $2.35 billion in 2025, underlining the scale of opportunity now emerging across the sector.

“The commercial value of women’s sport is now clear, but the responsibility is on us to build systems that can attract and sustain that investment,” said Goagoses.

Her experience at Africa Netball, where she previously served as Vice President for Development, has shaped that perspective.

In that role, she oversaw programmes aimed at expanding participation and strengthening emerging federations.

Now, as Acting President, her focus has broadened to include not only development but the commercial sustainability of the sport.

Participation across Africa has grown significantly, with more than twenty countries now competing at international level.

Yet, as Goagoses pointed out, participation alone is not enough.

Without investment in professional leagues, broadcast partnerships and structured competitions, the sport risks stagnation.

“Development and commercial strategy must work together, grassroots programmes bring players into the sport but professional structures are what keeps them there,” said Goagoses.

That visibility, she added, is increasingly driven by digital platforms and media exposure. Globally, women’s sport has benefited from a surge in online engagement and broadcast coverage, creating new opportunities for sponsorship and audience growth.

For African netball, replicating that model will be key to unlocking its commercial potential.

“Audience growth is critical because when people watch, brands follow and when big brands invest – this allows the sport to grow,” said Goagoses.

Beyond the financial and structural considerations, her leadership is also rooted in a broader sense of purpose.

As more women take on decision-making roles in global sport, they are reshaping governance and influencing conversations around equality, access and opportunity. “Leadership is about creating pathways for others and ensuring that the system becomes more inclusive than it was before,” said Goagoses.

In many ways, Goagoses’ journey reflects the wider trajectory of women’s sport, one defined by growth, resilience and a shift towards recognition not only as a social movement but as a serious economic force.

Under her leadership, Africa Netball is navigating that transition in the continent – balancing developmentwith ambition and structure with opportunity.

“The goal is to build a system where African netball is competitive at the highest level, supported by strong governance and meaningful investment,” said Goagoses.

As the global spotlight continues to turn towards women’s sport, leaders like Goagoses are ensuring that Africa is not left on the margins of that story.

Instead, through deliberate strategy and measured leadership, she is helping to position the continent as an active contributor in its future.

In doing so, she is shaping not just the future of netball, but the broader narrative of women’s leadership in African sport.

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