IN the lead-up to the Netball World Cup starting July 12, we are previewing each of the automatic qualifiers individually, and then looking at each region’s qualification path’s to the sport’s highest ranked international tournament. In today’s region preview, we take a look at the African region, which saw Uganda and Zimbabwe both make it through to the World Cup. Uganda was the highest ranked non-automatic qualifier for the World Cup so it came as no surprise that the She Cranes qualified through to the World Cup without dropping a game from the African region. Zimbabwe was the surprise packet of qualifying teams, making its first ever World Cup and thus, bringing great pride amongst the nation.

For the African Regional Qualifiers, six teams battled it out for two World Cup places in a Round Robin setting. Hosts Zambia were looking to return to the World Cup after having played in the previous event at Sydney, but were toppled by newcomers Zimbabwe, with the thirteenth ranked nation earning its spot with wins over not only Zambia, but Botswana, Namibia and Kenya, while Uganda not surprisingly qualified without dropping a game. Impressively, the She Cranes also knocked off Malawi Queens as the tournament doubled up as the African Championships, which helped them qualify through to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Results:

1st Uganda (5-0)
2nd Zimbabwe (4-1)
3rd Zambia (3-2)
4th Botswana (2-3)
5th Namibia (1-4)
6th Kenya (0-5)

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World Cup previews:

Uganda

Coach: Vincent Kiwanuka
World Ranking: 6
Best Result: 8th
Predicted: 11th

Uganda are a dangerous side to any opposition with tall shooters, Peace Proscovia and Mary Cholock imposing figures in the circle. Cholock is a towering 200cm plus shooter who has experience in England playing for the Loughborough Lightning in the Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL), while Proscovia has been a revelation for Australia’s Lightning – the Sunshine Coast in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN). The challenge for Rashid Mubiru will be working out how to use his shooters to best effect with both players holding shooters meaning one will need to adapt to become more of an active shooter, not to mention goal attack rather than standing shooter. Up the other end, whilst Uganda is not known to have a strong defence, Lilian Ajio is a player who can play in goal defence or move up to the wing and is the best interceptor in the side. She knows when to move and cut off deft passes into the forward third, and while she is now 34-years-old, Ajio has World Cup experience after playing in Sydney four years ago. Ajio might be a crucial cog in Uganda’s success over the tournament, given the goal circle is settled and the defensive end looks for leadership and strength. The Ugandian talls will no doubt give all three opposing nations some worries, with Proscovia renewing her battle against English stars, Geva Mentor and Layla Guscoth. Uganda have the strength to finish inside the top eight now they are a record-high sixth place, but it will be how well their defence holds up, and if opposition nations can restrict the feeds into the goal circle.

Zimbabwe

Coach: Lloyd Makumbe
World Ranking: 13
Best Result: Debut
Predicted: 13th

Zimbabwe is the definition of unknown quantity, with Lloyd Makumbe‘s side entering the world’s top netball competition for the first time. They qualified with an important win over Zambia and lived up to the recent strong form exhibited by rising to number 13 on the rankings to be the clear fourth best African nation. The Gems also have the unique position of not being the lowest ranked international nation in their group, paired up with Sri Lanka as the two teams sit outside the top eight. It means that Zimbabwe has a chance of making it through to Preliminary Stage Two if they can topple the Asian nation in the first day’s match of the tournament. Among the players regarded highly by the nation’s coaches are shooters Pauline Jani and Mercy Mukwadi who will look to make history by scoring the first Zimbabwean goal at a Netball World Cup. Veterans Patricia Mauladi and Perpetua Siyachitema – the latter was named captain – will look to control the flow in the midcourt with nice movement in transition. It is no secret that advancing further than Stage Two would be a miracle given Australia and New Zealand both falling into Zimbabwe’s group, not to mention fellow African nation Malawi and the improving Northern Ireland, but if they can be competitive throughout the tournament, then it will be a great success for the fledgling netballing nation. While many might see them landing in the reigning champions and world number one’s Australia’s group as misfortune, it means the likes of Jani and Mukwadi will have the opportunity to play against world-class defenders in Courtney Bruce and April Brandley who have stood up time and time again on the world stage, while their inexperienced defenders will face the mammoth challenge of trying to contain Australian captain, Caitlin Bassett and Steph Wood.

The automatic qualifier: Malawi

MALAWI automatically qualified for the World Cup and will be wanting to go even further than they have in the past with their highest ranking fifth. They have plenty of class and skill across the court and have shown that they can mix it with the best surprising New Zealand in the Commonwealth Games last year with a shock win. The Queens will be riding that wave of success however they will be without star goal shooter Mwai Kumwenda who tore her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) late last year in a Vixens game. The shooter oozes class and accuracy to post but the Queens will be looking to Joyce Mvula to shoulder the load in the goal circle throughout their World Cup campaign. Not only was Kumwenda pivotal throughout the Commonwealth Games campaign she was named the player of the series for the 2015 World Cup showcasing her importance in the side and ability to tear games apart with her athleticism, ball control and composure. However Mvula is not to be underestimated with the goal shooter able to turn games on its head with her accuracy to post and strength under the ring to hold space and find easy access to goals.

Malawi are currently ranked ninth in the world credit to their continued development and ability to move the ball with pace, precision and skill. Given their recent form on the international stage the Queens should not be underestimated and could quite possibly cause further upsets against the likes of the Ferns. They are set to face the likes of Barbados and Singapore during the group stage and will be wanting to leave a lasting imprint on the competition and claim dominant wins against the lower ranked nations. With a relatively inexperienced midcourt a lot will rest on the defensive and offensive ends for the Queens if they are to prevail. Loreen Ngwira has tested her trade in the Vitality Netball Super League in England with the defender showcasing her defensive characteristics and ability to win ball with ease. She will be a real lynchpin in defence for Malawi given her knowledge of the game and read of the play.