Africa Netball Cup 2026 to unite men’s and women’s teams in Nairobi

Nairobi will host the Africa Netball Cup 2026 from 19 to 26 September, bringing the continent’s women’s and men’s national teams together at Kasarani Indoor Arena. The eight-day event will also include Africa’s qualifiers for the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027.

The women’s qualifying competition will feature Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria. South Africa and Uganda will join those teams in the women’s Africa Netball Cup field, creating a 10-team continental championship alongside the World Cup qualification contest.

The men’s Africa Netball Cup will involve seven nations: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, Malawi and Eswatini. Their matches will determine the men’s continental champion while providing another high-level competition for the sport’s expanding men’s programmes.

South Africa will defend the men’s title in Nairobi. Zimbabwe has established itself as one of the country’s main challengers, while Kenya will compete at home. Uganda, Botswana and Malawi will add to the contest, and Eswatini will seek to build on its progress against more established programmes.

The tournament gives the participating nations an opportunity to strengthen their men’s structures, develop players and coaches, and provide regular international competition. Its inclusion of a dedicated men’s championship also supports wider efforts to create more opportunities for men and boys to play netball across Africa.

For the women, the Nairobi event carries the additional importance of deciding Africa’s route to the 2027 World Cup in Sydney. Bringing the women’s qualifiers together with both Africa Netball Cup competitions will place qualification and continental honours at the centre of one week of international netball.