From setback to redemption

What the report says

Uganda’s She-Cranes are preparing for the Africa Netball Cup 2026, which The Observer says will be held from September 19 to 26 at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, Kenya. The tournament will feature 10 nations and is expected to decide more than continental honours, as some teams will be chasing qualification places for the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027.

The publication reports that Uganda enter the event after a sixth-place finish at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where South Africa beat them 62-54 in a classification playoff. South Africa, Uganda, and other leading African sides such as Malawi and Zimbabwe are expected to shape the competition, while Kenya will compete at home in Pool A. Uganda are in Pool B with Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Tanzania.

According to The Observer, South Africa and Uganda have already qualified for the 2027 World Cup based on rankings, leaving two African qualification spots available for the best-placed teams outside that pair. The She-Cranes also bring recent credentials, including a fifth-place finish at the 2023 Netball World Cup and a win at the 2025 Celtic Cup. The article frames Nairobi as a chance for Uganda to turn a difficult Commonwealth campaign into renewed momentum under head coach Rashid Mubiru.