South Africa dash Gems' hopes of third successive Netball World Cup berth
Zimbabwe's national netball team, The Gems, suffered a 58-41 defeat against South Africa at the Africa Netball Cup. This loss complicates their path to qualifying for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney.
Why it matters
The result significantly impacts the competitive standing of African nations in international netball rankings and tournament qualification.
ZIMBABWE senior women’s netball team, The Gems’ push for a third straight Netball World Cup appearance hit turbulence on Sunday after a 58-41 defeat to South Africa in their second Group One outing at the Africa Netball Cup at Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, Kenya.
The loss came just 24 hours after Zimbabwe had made a statement in their opener, powering past Botswana 57-39 to kick off their campaign in style.
Against the Proteas, the Gems were second-best from the first whistle. South Africa, who had hammered Tanzania 90-22 in their first match, raced to a 14-6 lead after the opening quarter and never looked back.
The Southern African giants doubled down in the second period, stretching their cushion to 29-17 by halftime.
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