The Malawi Queens are now within touching distance of 2027 Netball World Cup qualification following their 55-47 win over hosts Kenya at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani Indoor Court at the ongoing Africa Netball Championship.
The Malawi National Netball Team will punch their ticket to the global showpiece if they beat Nigeria this afternoon.
The tournament is being used as a World Cup qualifier with the top two, except for South Africa and Uganda, already assured of qualification.
South Africa and Uganda qualified by vurtue of being among the top seven ranked teams in the world although they are taking part in the continental showpiece.
Yesterday’s Pool 2 victory was the second on the trot for the Queens, who swept aside Zambia 71-38 in their opening fixture on Saturday without breaking sweat.
Malawi now top the pool with four points.
However, yesterday’s contest was not a stroll in the park for thes Queens as the hosts displayed strong resistance.
But led by their Australia-based legendary shooter Mwawi Kumwenda, the Queens shrugged off some early lethargy to come out triumphant.
Malawi led 15-9 in the first quarter, but Kenya showed strong determination in the second quarter. However, the Queens held on to lead 28-24 at half-time.
After the half-time pep talk from expatriate coach Debbie Fuller and her assistant Peace Chawinga-Kalua, the world’s eighth ranked Queens returned with renewed purpose to lead 41-33 in the third quarter before wrapping it up with an eight-basket margin.
Fuller praised her charges for their fighting spirit.
She said: “I am proud of their team [Kenya]. There were moments that they were put under big hedge on every ball. Credit to Kenya, they have a strategic coach who taught them some pretty smart tactics.
“So, we had to get around those and work through it in the last quarter and get the job done.”
Fuller said she was happy with her player’s resilience and the striving mentality to keep going.
