The Malawi Queens have left for Nairobi, Kenya, carrying a clear ambition that goes beyond taking part in the 2026 Africa Netball Cup.
For captain Takondwa Lwazi and her teammates, the tournament is an opportunity to fight for the continental title and secure Malawi’s place at the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia.
The Queens departed on Sunday ahead of the September 19-26 competition, which offers two remaining African qualification places for the global tournament.
Lwazi has made the team’s intentions clear, saying Malawi is heading to Nairobi to compete and qualify for the World Cup rather than simply participate.
The team enters the competition with renewed confidence after climbing to eighth in the latest world rankings. However, the Queens face a demanding challenge in Pool 2, where they will meet Uganda, Zambia, hosts Kenya and Nigeria.
Malawi has also made four changes to the squad that competed at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with Thandi Galeta, Prisca Banda, Mphatso Kanyimbo and Chimwemwe Dzanja returning to the team.
Their experience will be important alongside established players such as Mwawi Kumwenda, Lwazi and Tendai Masamba as the Queens pursue their ambitions in Nairobi.
Coach Deborah Fuller has described the squad as being in good shape, with no injury concerns reported ahead of the tournament.
NICO Group Head of Marketing and Customer Experience Taweni Gondwe Xaba has expressed confidence in the team’s ability to deliver, saying the company believes in the Queens and their technical preparations.
The Queens must now turn that confidence into results, with the Africa Cup title and a World Cup place waiting for the team that can rise to the occasion.
