Kenya’s Divas entered the 2026 Africa Netball Cup with hopes of making a strong challenge on home soil, but their campaign has instead turned into a fight for position after a major change in the qualification pathway for the 2027 Netball World Cup.
The September 19-26 championship was expected to provide an important opportunity for Kenya to compete for continental honours and strengthen its position among Africa’s leading netball nations. Instead, the Divas will take on Zimbabwe in a fifth-place ranking match on Saturday as the medal battle is contested by other teams.
World Netball’s decision to send Malawi and Namibia to the 2027 Netball World Cup changed the complexion of the competition. Both nations finished second in their respective pools, but the new qualification arrangement meant that the immediate focus for Kenya who finished third in their pool shifted from a medal challenge to securing the best possible ranking.
The development has been particularly difficult for a Kenyan side playing in front of home supporters and carrying expectations into the tournament.
Divas head coach Tapiwa Chirenda acknowledged that the change had been difficult for his players to process. The Zimbabwean coach added that the team had to regroup mentally and concentrate on finishing the championship strongly.
“It’s very difficult now,” said Chirenda.
“We have to go back, reorient the girls, get their mindset back, and we just try and play for the rankings.”
The Divas’ situation contrasts with that of South Africa and Uganda, who arrived at the championship already assured of World Cup places through the world rankings. The two teams subsequently dominated their respective pools and advanced to the final.
Malawi and Namibia, meanwhile, secured second place in their pools and will meet in the bronze-medal match later on Friday.
For Kenya, the fifth-place contest against Zimbabwe provides an opportunity to salvage something from a tournament that began with greater ambitions.
The match will also give the Divas a chance to demonstrate resilience after the qualification changes disrupted their initial objectives.
Playing at home had raised expectations around Kenya’s campaign before the opening matches on September 19. The team was expected to use the continental championship as a platform to challenge the established powers and make its presence felt in the medal race.
Instead, the Divas now have a more immediate task which is responding positively to disappointment and ensuring they finish the tournament with a performance that reflects their ambitions.
The outcome against Zimbabwe will determine where Kenya ends the championship, but the campaign has already underlined the importance of adapting quickly when tournament circumstances change.
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