Uganda brace for physical Malawi test as Africa Netball Cup heats up in Nairobi

Tuesday  results

Uganda 38 :  41Eswantini (men)

Wednesday fixtures 

Uganda vs Malawi: 8:00am ( Men)

Uganda vs Malawi 12:00pm(women)

Jesse Asiimwe, the head coach for the national men's team, The Rock, expects a bruising battle when Uganda face a physical and aggressive Malawi at the Africa Netball Cup in Nairobi today, warning both the She Cranes and The Rock that tactical discipline and accuracy will be crucial if they are to maintain Uganda's dominance over their opponents.

The Rock will face Malawi in the morning at the Kasarani Indoor Arena before the She Cranes take on the Malawi women later in the day, giving Uganda a double test against one of its long-standing continental rivals.

"When I saw the fixture, I knew it was going to be bloody. The men will be the first to play against Malawi in the morning and later the women will play at noon," Asiimwe said.

"We have all it takes to win the two games. However, this will not be easy unless the coaches remain strategic and the players follow instructions."

Asiimwe's warning comes as Malawi arrive with plenty to prove, particularly with the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney on the horizon.

The Malawians are among the teams battling for qualification and have strengthened their squad by recalling Australia-based professional Mwai Kumwenda, underlining their determination to secure a place at the global showpiece.

Her return adds experience and firepower to a Malawi side that Uganda cannot afford to underestimate.

The Rock, however, will draw confidence from their recent success against Malawi. At last year's Africa Netball Cup in Lilongwe, Uganda defeated the hosts, while the She Cranes also registered a convincing 46-33 victory.

For the She Cranes, the result continued a period of dominance over Malawi. The last time Malawi defeated Uganda's women was at the 2015 Netball World Cup, when they won 59-53.

Since then, the She Cranes have held the advantage in their encounters, something goal shooter Winnie Isoto wants the team to maintain.

"We know what Malawi is capable of doing. We are studying them and we know how to handle them. We are planning to keep a distant lead. We do not want them to come close," Isoto said.

However, Uganda's qualification for the 2027 World Cup could bring a different kind of pressure. With their place already secured, the She Cranes must guard against complacency against a Malawi side fighting for its own World Cup dream.

Asiimwe believes Uganda has enough quality to overcome the challenge, but only if his players remain disciplined and execute their game plan.

For The Rock, the focus will be on making opportunities count, particularly in the shooting circle, while containing Malawi's physical approach.

The She Cranes will later face a similar test, with Isoto and her teammates expected to remain composed as Malawi attempt to close the gap.

The 2026 Africa Netball Cup is underway in Nairobi, Kenya, with nations battling for the two remaining qualification slots for the 2027 Netball World Cup. Uganda and South Africa have already secured their places at the global showpiece.