Kenya is edging closer to hosting the 2026 Africa Men’s and Women’s Netball Cup, a tournament that could mark the country’s long-awaited return to the Netball World Cup after more than a decade away.
The continental championship is scheduled to take place from September 19 to 26 and will bring together 12 men’s and women’s teams. For Kenya, the stakes extend far beyond hosting rights. The tournament will also serve as a key pathway to qualification for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
The national women’s team last appeared on netball’s biggest stage in 2015, when they finished 13th at the World Cup in Liverpool, England. Since then, Kenya has missed out on successive editions, making the upcoming qualifiers one of the country’s biggest opportunities to return to elite competition.
Kenya’s World Cup dream gathers momentum
Preparations gathered momentum after an inspection by officials from the Confederation of African Netball Associations (CANA), who assessed proposed venues in Nairobi, including the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and the Moi International Sports Centre Indoor Arena in Kasarani.
Africa Netball Acting President Rebekka Goagoses said Kenya’s preparations had left a strong impression.
“Infrastructure development has always been my soft spot having been a former player. The infrastructure in Kenya is overwhelming because we have so much to choose from, and it is very assuring, which makes me feel comfortable that Kenya is ready to host,” she said.
Inspectors also reviewed accommodation, transport, medical services and training facilities, all of which form part of the requirements for hosting a continental championship.
Officials back Kenya’s hosting preparations
World Netball representative Joan Smith welcomed the support provided by Kenya’s sporting institutions.
“We are grateful for the overwhelming support from the Kenya National Olympic Committee and Kenya Sports Council. It is not just for Kenyan netball but for African and world netball,” Smith said.
Hosting the tournament would add another chapter to Kenya’s growing reputation as a destination for international sport. In recent years, the country has staged major athletics, rugby, volleyball and football events, building experience in organising global competitions.
For the Kenya Netball Federation, however, the biggest prize remains qualification.
Federation president Immaculate Kabutha said hosting the tournament at home would help raise standards while giving local players the chance to compete under familiar conditions.
The federation is also expecting improvements to its facilities, including the installation of a wooden sprung floor at the Ulinzi Sports Complex for the men’s team. The surface was donated by World Netball in partnership with Netball South Africa following the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town.
“The infrastructure will help us improve our standards and give our teams an environment similar to what they experience internationally,” Kabutha said.
Home advantage offers Kenya fresh hope
Several nations, including Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, England, South Africa and Uganda, have already secured places at the 2027 Netball World Cup through world rankings. That leaves the remaining qualification places to be decided through regional competitions, making the Africa Cup one of the most important tournaments on the continent’s calendar.
For Kenya, the event offers more than home advantage. It presents a chance to end an 11-year wait and return to the sport’s biggest stage.
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