Zambia to miss second netball event in three months

Harriet Millard

Zambia’s netball community has been left frustrated after Netball Zambia confirmed the withdrawal of both the senior women’s and men’s national teams from the 2025 Africa Netball Cup, marking the second major international absence in less than three months.

The announcement follows the country’s absence from the 2025 World Youth Netball Cup in Gibraltar in September, where the U21 team failed to travel due to unresolved visa issues.

In a statement released on 24 November, Netball Zambia announced it had been unable to raise the 1.2 million kwacha required for the teams to participate in the Africa Netball Cup, set for 8 -14 December in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Secretary General Pritchard Ngoma expressed deep regret, noting the organisation had exhausted efforts to secure sponsorship. “We have done everything within our means to mobilise resources, but we can no longer hold on in the hope of a last-minute sponsor,” he said.

The decision is especially disappointing for the women’s team, who made history by winning their first Africa Netball Cup title in 2023. For supporters, this is seen not only as a logistical setback but a missed chance to build.

As Netball Zambia vows to rebuild and return “stronger,” the back-to-back absences have intensified scrutiny.