Handball: Uganda’s Nile Queens end 10-year wait for Africa Zone V glory

What the report says

Uganda’s women’s handball team, the Nile Queens, have won the Women’s IHF Nations Trophy Africa Zone V title after defeating Kenya 29-28 in a tense final at the Filbert Bayi Multi-Sports Centre in Kibaha, Tanzania, according to The Observer. Joyce Namutosi scored the late winning goal with just 74 seconds remaining, giving Uganda a narrow victory over its regional rival and avenging an earlier 30-27 group-stage loss to Kenya in the same tournament.

The result ends Uganda’s 10-year wait for Zone V success and delivers the team’s first regional title since 2016. The win also came under head coach Aziz Yakoub, marking a notable milestone for the squad as it regained regional standing in east and central African women’s handball.

The Observer reported that the triumph also secured Uganda’s place at the 27th Women’s Senior African Nations Handball Championship, set for December 2-12, 2026, in Tunisia. The qualification adds significance to the victory because it gives the Nile Queens a chance to measure themselves against stronger continental opposition after their regional breakthrough.

Attention now turns to the Uganda Handball Federation, which will need to organise preparations and resources for the continental event. The wider challenge will be turning this Zone V success into a competitive showing on the African stage.