Kenya’s men’s and women’s national netball teams posted commendable performances at the recently concluded 2025 Africa Netball Cup, with the men finishing fourth and the women securing fifth place.
The continental tournament was held at the Griffin Sayenda Sports Complex in Lilongwe, Malawi.
Kenya Netball Federation (KNF) Secretary General Millicent Busolo expressed satisfaction with the men’s showing, noting that the team’s progress keeps alive the federation’s primary objective of qualifying for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
In the group stage, Kenya’s women were drawn in Pool Two alongside Uganda, Namibia and Zimbabwe, while the men were also placed in Pool Two with Eswatini, Malawi and Namibia.
Kenya’s women, La Divas, opened their campaign against regional rivals Uganda’s She Cranes in a highly charged encounter.
Fresh from winning the 2025 Celtic Cup, Uganda edged the Kenyans—who had just lifted the 2025 Singlife Nations Cup—in a thrilling 46–45 contest on Tuesday.
The men began their campaign on Wednesday with a 37–28 loss to Eswatini, while the women played out a 42–42 draw against Namibia on the same day.
Both teams then enjoyed a rest day as they regrouped ahead of Friday’s fixtures.
On Friday, head coach Joseph Makau inspired the men to a crucial 39–35 victory over hosts Malawi, booking a place in the semifinals. The women, coached by Evelyn Jerono, however, suffered a 53–44 defeat to Zimbabwe, ending their hopes of a semifinal appearance.
Saturday’s semifinal saw Kenya’s men face defending champions and last year’s finalists South Africa in a dramatic showdown.
Led by captain Chester Kioko, Kenya mounted a spirited challenge that pushed the champions to the limit. South Africa eventually pulled away in the final quarter to claim a 46–41 win, sending Kenya into the third-place playoff.
In Sunday’s playoff, Kenya took on Eswatini in another intense encounter. Despite a relentless display from Makau’s side, Eswatini edged the match 40–39 at the buzzer to clinch third place, leaving Kenya to settle for fourth.
Earlier on Sunday, Kenya’s women defeated Botswana 50–40 in the fifth-place playoff, securing a respectable fifth-place finish overall.
Kenya’s teams will now return home to review their performances as the 2025 season comes to a close.
Despite the mixed results, Busolo remains optimistic, insisting that 2026 will be a stronger year for Kenyan netball.
