Uganda’s She-Cranes will enter the 2026 African Netball Championship in Nairobi with one major burden already lifted — qualification for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney.
That gives Uganda a rare advantage ahead of the continental showpiece, scheduled for September 19-26 at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, Kenya. The She-Cranes have already secured one of Africa’s World Cup in Sydney.
That gives Uganda a rare advantage ahead of the continental showpiece, scheduled for September 19-26 at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, Kenya. The She-Cranes have already secured one of Africa’s World for Uganda.
Instead, the event presents the She-Cranes with an important opportunity to measure themselves against some of the continent’s leading sides, including South Africa and hosts Kenya, while also sharpening their preparations for the global stage.
The African Netball Championship 2026 was officially launched in Nairobi last week, setting the stage for what is expected to be a landmark continental competition. While the tournament will also feature a men’s competition, the women’s championship will serve as Africa’s official qualifier for the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027.
With South Africa and Uganda already qualified, the two highest-placed nations at the Nairobi event will claim Africa’s remaining qualification slots. Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Nigeria and Tanzania are among the nations eligible to compete for those positions.
For Uganda, therefore, the pressure of qualification has been replaced by the pressure of performance. The She Cranes will be expected to use the tournament to test their depth, assess their progress against the continent’s best and build momentum towards Sydney.
Speaking at the tournament launch, Africa Netball Acting president Rebekka Goagoses said the championship represented the continent’s progress towards a stronger and more sustainable future for the sport.
“Hosting the Africa Netball Cup in Kenya reflects the growing strength and reach of our game. This event brings together the continent’s best teams, but it also carries a wider purpose: to create stronger pathways, inspire young players and position African netball for sustained success on the global stage,” Goagoses said.
Kenya Netball president Immaculate Kabutha said the country was preparing to host the continent with ambition and pride. World Netball had earlier announced that the five regional qualifiers for the Sydney 2027 World Cup would be held between August and October 2026.
The She Cranes are currently competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, where they are gaining further exposure against high-level opposition.
