By Tapiwa Chawagarira
HARARE — Zimbabwe’s national netball teams, the Gems and Golden Flyers, will aim to make their mark as Africa’s leading netball nations converge in Nairobi, Kenya, for the 2026 Africa Netball Cup and the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027 Africa Qualifiers from September 19 to 26.
The eight-day continental showcase will be held at the Kasarani Indoor Arena, bringing together the continent’s top women’s and men’s teams for what promises to be a highly competitive tournament.
For Zimbabwe, the championships provide an important opportunity for both the Gems and the Golden Flyers to test themselves against some of Africa’s best teams.
The Gems, Zimbabwe’s senior women’s national team, will compete in both the Africa Netball Cup and the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027 Africa Qualifiers, where they will battle against Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria.
The women’s competition carries added significance as it doubles as Africa’s pathway to the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia, meaning the Gems will have more than just continental honours at stake.
Zimbabwe will hope to produce a strong campaign and secure their place on the global stage while continuing their proud tradition of competing among Africa’s leading netball nations.
The Golden Flyers, meanwhile, will represent Zimbabwe in the men’s Africa Netball Cup, which features seven nations: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, Malawi, and Eswatini.
The men’s tournament presents another major opportunity for the Golden Flyers to showcase the progress of Zimbabwean men’s netball and to challenge for continental honours.
Zimbabwe will face defending champions South Africa, who remain one of the strongest teams in African men’s netball. However, the Golden Flyers will be among those looking to upset the established order and mount a serious challenge for the title.
Playing in Nairobi will also present a unique challenge for both Zimbabwean teams, as Kenya will enjoy home advantage and the support of their fans.
The tournament is expected to provide valuable international exposure for the players while contributing to the development of netball structures, coaching, officiating, and talent pathways across Africa.
For Zimbabwe, the participation of both the Gems and Golden Flyers underlines the country’s growing involvement in both women’s and men’s netball at the continental level.
With the Gems chasing World Cup qualification and the Golden Flyers targeting continental glory, Zimbabwe will have plenty to play for when the action gets underway at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.
The Nairobi tournament, therefore, represents more than just another international assignment for Zimbabwe’s national teams. It is an opportunity for the Gems to secure a place at the global showpiece in Sydney and for the Golden Flyers to further establish themselves among Africa’s leading men’s netball teams.
