Reviewed by Peter KanjereMalawi sports betting writer
Published 18 September 2026
Malawi open the Africa Netball Cup in a pool of five that contains the hosts, Zambia, Nigeria and a Ugandan side already holding a World Cup place.
The tournament is played at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, Nairobi, from 19 to 26 September. Ten nations are split into two pools of five, and Malawi are in the second of them alongside Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Nigeria.
That draw puts three of the Queens’ rivals for a World Cup place in front of them inside the opening week, because Uganda already hold one of Africa’s awarded places.
Two places, and one pool opponent does not need either
South Africa and Uganda already hold Africa’s two awarded places at the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia. Two more are decided in Nairobi, and every other nation in the draw is chasing them, Malawi included.
Uganda are therefore in Malawi’s pool with their own qualification settled. Their pool matches decide seeding and little else. Malawi’s decide the season. Kenya, Zambia and Nigeria are in exactly the position the Queens are in, which makes the second pool the one where the competitive pressure sits.
Malawi are ranked eighth in the world and were not among the sides given a place before qualifying began. For a country that has spent most of the past decade travelling to tournaments as a favourite, that is the detail that reframes the week.
What happens next in Kasarani
Malawi named a fifteen player squad for Nairobi, coached by Debbie Fuller and captained by Takondwa Lwazi, with Mwawi Kumwenda among the players recalled.
The pool stage runs first and the title is settled on the closing weekend. AXN Sports will carry the results from Kasarani as the matches are played.
Where to bet: netball prices in Malawi thin out quickly outside a tournament week, so expect match winner, winning margin and tournament outright rather than a deep menu. Premier Bet and Betway price Queens fixtures in kwacha with deposits by mobile money, and the Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority licenses betting in the country. Outright prices move hardest after the first round of pool results, so compare the two books on the same market before you stake. Our guide to the best betting sites in Malawi covers licensing and withdrawal times, and there is more in Malawi netball news from AXN Sports. 18+. Gamble responsibly.
