Malawi netball body questions ‘integrity’ of World Cup qualification process

Malawi’s netball chiefs have erupted in fury after organisers controversially axed the semi-finals at the Africa Netball Cup in Nairobi — a shock last-minute shake-up that has left the Malawi team scrambling and demanding urgent answers.

The Queens had been on course to face South Africa in a highly anticipated semi-final showdown after finishing second in Pool 2, in what looked set to be a thrilling route to the final of the 2026 Africa Netball Cup.

But in a stunning about-turn, tournament organisers scrapped the semi-final fixtures entirely, instead declaring that pool leaders South Africa and Uganda would go straight through to contest the final — while second and third-placed teams would instead be shunted into a separate play-off battle for World Cup qualification spots.

The bombshell decision means Malawi will now face Zimbabwe on Friday in a World Cup qualifying play-off, rather than the semi-final clash fans had been eagerly anticipating.

Organisers attempted to explain away the chaos in a hastily issued statement, admitting the combined tournament format had backfired spectacularly.

“We must admit that going forward; we will not accommodate countries that have already qualified for the World Cup into the same tournament as the qualifiers,” read the statement, signed by the Acting President of Africa Netball.

“The decision to combine both tournaments was initially taken with the best intentions, to address the financial challenges faced by many of our member countries. However, we have now realised that this combined format is not practical and has caused confusion,” the statement admitted.

But the extraordinary U-turn has infuriated the Netball Association of Malawi (NAM), who have now formally written to both Africa Netball and World Netball demanding urgent clarification over the shock introduction of additional World Cup Sydney 2027 qualification fixtures mid-tournament.

In a hard-hitting statement signed by General Secretary Yamikani Kauma, NAM blasted the sudden axing of the semi-finals as a “significant change” to the very competition structure under which teams originally entered.

“NAM entered the competition on the basis of the qualification criteria published by World Netball, which stated that the top two teams at the conclusion of the Africa Regional Qualifier would receive World Cup invitations, with the next eligible teams to benefit where already qualified nations occupied qualifying positions. Our position is not about Malawi’s qualification status. It is about the integrity, transparency and consistent application of the rules governing the qualification process,” the statement fumed.

NAM also raised serious concerns over exactly who authorised the eleventh-hour changes, particularly given that World Netball had already published clear qualification criteria before the tournament began.

“Our position is simple. Published qualification rules should be applied consistently, afford countries the right to compete, protect athletes’ welfare, and preserve the integrity of the World Cup qualification process,” the statement concluded defiantly.

With the row now escalating, all eyes will be on Friday’s crunch play-off clash against Zimbabwe — as Malawi’s netball bosses continue to demand answers over a controversy that has cast a shadow over the entire tournament.