Chaos as World Netball changes format… Gems dreams shattered… Kenya threaten to close Arena

Zimbabwe senior netball side’s hopes of a third consecutive World Cup appearance have been destroyed following World Netball’s late decision to hand the tickets to Malawi and Namibia yesterday, changing the format in the process.

Namibia finished top of Group One in the qualifying competition while Malawi topped Group Two, both with unbeaten records.

Unlike in previous years when the top teams in each pool would have automatically qualified for the global showcase provided the already-qualified nations, often South Africa and Uganda, made it to the semi-finals, this time the format was different.

Initially, according to Africa Netball’s format, Malawi were supposed to face Group One’s second-best side Zimbabwe while Namibia played Kenya in winner-takes-all play-offs to decide Africa’s last two slots for Sydney 2027.

However, World Netball yesterday confirmed that there would be no play-offs.

Instead, Malawi and Namibia have already booked their tickets to the World Cup by virtue of finishing top of their respective groups.

“Following the conclusion of the pool stages at the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027 Qualifier – Africa, World Netball and Africa Netball can confirm that Malawi and Namibia have qualified to be invited by World Netball to compete at the NWC2027,” reads part of the World Netball statement.

“In accordance with the NWC2027 Qualifier — Africa Competition Regulations, the competition format determines that the top two teams from each pool advance to semi-final and final matches.”

The developments have left African netball federations questioning the integrity of the continental mother body. Kenya Netball has now threatened to shut down operations today, insisting that the tournament will not proceed unless the issues are resolved.

“We are not opening the arena and we are withdrawing our team transfer shuttles,” said Kenya Netball. Africa Netball president, who is also Namibia netball boss Rebekka Goagoses, is no longer cooperative on our issue. She is around, but after all this mess she has disappeared.

“How does a tournament change rules when we are in the middle of the games?

Goagoses pulled all these stunts to protect Namibia and we condemn her actions.”

Netball federations have written to World Netball protesting the developments.

On the basis of the pool results, the Africa Cup semi-final will now see all World Cup-bound sides clashing, with South Africa playing Malawi while Uganda play Namibia.

This development came as a huge heartbreak for Zimbabwe, whose eyes had already been set on today’s play-offs, hoping to overpower Malawi and grab the World Cup ticket.

The Gems had been gearing up for an all-or-nothing showdown this afternoon with more than a ticket on the line.

Qualification would have sealed a third successive World Cup appearance after a historic debut in Liverpool in 2019 and a second consecutive showing in Cape Town in 2023, cementing Zimbabwe’s status among Africa’s elite netball nations.

Gems coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki was disappointed.

“We had prepared ourselves to fight for the ticket when the Africa Netball format presented that opportunity,” he said. *_-Herald_*