Africa Netball under fire for late qualifier switch

Africa Netball has come under fire over a late change to the women’s 2027 World Cup qualification format in Nairobi, Kenya, after abandoning its previously published knockout structure on the day of the scheduled semi-finals.

The change has altered Namibia’s route to Sydney 2027, with the Debmarine Desert Jewels no longer facing Uganda’s She Cranes in an Africa Cup semi-final as originally scheduled yesterday, while South Africa were due to face Malawi Queens.

Instead, Namibia will face hosts Kenya today at 12:00 (11:00 Namibian time) in what Africa Netball now terms a World Cup qualification semi-final. Malawi will then take on Zimbabwe’s Gems at 14:00 (13:00 Namibian time).

Namibia’s pool-stage run saw them beat Botswana’s Dinaledi 54-32, Zimbabwe’s Gems 47-31 and Tanzania’s Taifa Queens 62-36, before picking up their first loss at the event on Wednesday when they fell 55-33 to the Spar Proteas.

South Africa and Uganda, who topped Pool One and Pool Two respectively, have already qualified for next year’s World Cup through their world rankings.

They have meanwhile been advanced directly to Saturday’s Africa Netball Cup final at 18:00 (17:00 Namibian time) without contesting the scheduled semi-finals.

The change effectively skips the first stage of a contingency structure already contained in the original fixtures, which provided for separate World Cup qualification play-offs involving the pool runners-up and third-placed teams if required.

Malawi demands answers

The decision has drawn a formal objection from the Netball Association of Malawi (NAM), which has written to both Africa Netball and World Netball seeking clarification over what it describes as the introduction of additional World Cup qualification fixtures.

In a statement seen by Sport Wrap yesterday, NAM confirmed that its scheduled semi-final against South Africa had been cancelled.

It added that the new arrangement represented a significant departure from the competition structure under which countries entered the tournament.

NAM said it entered the competition on the basis of World Netball’s published qualification criteria.

The criteria state that the top two teams at the conclusion of the African regional qualifier would receive World Cup invitations, with the next eligible countries benefiting where already-qualified nations occupied those 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 association said.

NAM further claimed Africa Netball had advised it on 21 July that a meeting would be convened to discuss the proposed qualification arrangement and obtain the views of participating countries.

According to the association, that meeting did not take place, and Member Associations were not allowed to formally consider or adopt the proposed changes before the competition started.

NAM said concerns were eventually raised on 18 September, but accused Africa Netball of failing to provide clear direction until the conclusion of the pool stage.

It has now asked the two governing bodies to identify the regulation authorising the additional qualification fixtures.

‘Clarity and fairness’

Africa Netball acknowledged in its own statement yesterday that combining countries already qualified for the World Cup with those still chasing qualification had created problems.

The continental body said the decision to combine the Africa Cup and World Cup qualifier was originally taken to address financial challenges faced by its Member Associations.

It also admitted it had since realised that the format was “not practical” and had “caused confusion”.

It announced that the teams placed second and third in their respective pools would instead cross over to determine the World Cup qualifying positions, while pool winners South Africa and Uganda would contest the Africa Cup final.

Africa Netball said the decision was taken “in the best interest of all parties involved” and to ensure “clarity and fairness” as the tournament concludes.

However, the statement did not explain why the new arrangement was considered fairer than the original published structure, why the existing contingency mechanism was no longer sufficient or who formally authorised the change.

It also did not state whether World Netball approved the new competition format before it was implemented.

Sport Wrap put these questions to Africa Netball acting president Rebekka Goagoses yesterday.

“I will provide a response soonest,” Goagoses replied.

That remained the only response received from Africa Netball at the time of going to print yesterday.

World Netball approval questioned

Sources within netball circles, who preferred to remain anonymous, pointed Sport Wrap to World Netball’s General Regulations.

Regulation 7.4.3 states that once an international event has been sanctioned by World Netball and included on its events calendar, any changes to its dates, venues, participants and/or format must be approved in advance by the global body.

Sport Wrap yesterday emailed World Netball seeking confirmation on whether Africa Netball had requested and received the prior approval required under Regulation 7.4.3, when such approval was granted and by whom.

No response had been received from World Netball at the time of going to print.

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