Malawi’s Queens produced a dominant display at the Africa Netball Cup in Nairobi, Kenya, crushing Nigeria 82-22 to secure their place at the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia. 

The defending champions established their superiority from the opening whistle, racing into a 21-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Nigeria struggled to contain Malawi’s attacking movement and relentless pressure as the Queens continued to extend their advantage.

By half-time, Malawi had opened a commanding 40-11 lead, leaving Nigeria with a 29-goal deficit heading into the second half. 

The third quarter followed a similar pattern, with Malawi adding 23 goals while Nigeria managed only three as the defending champions moved further ahead at 63-14.

There was little respite for Nigeria in the final quarter as Malawi continued to dominate, adding another 19 goals to complete an emphatic 82-22 victory.

The 60-goal margin represented Malawi’s third consecutive victory in Pool 2, following earlier wins over Zambia and hosts Kenya. 

The result also confirmed Malawi’s qualification for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, with the Queens securing their ticket after three wins from three matches.

Malawi’s impressive campaign has seen them maintain their unbeaten record while strengthening their status as one of the leading teams in the continental competition.

For Nigeria, the heavy defeat represents a difficult setback in the race for qualification and highlights the gap the team must bridge against one of Africa’s established netball powers.

The Nigerian side will now have to regroup and assess its performance as the Africa Netball Cup continues, with the remaining fixtures providing an opportunity to respond to the heavy loss.

Malawi, meanwhile, will face Uganda on Wednesday in their final Pool 2 fixture, with qualification already secured and the Queens seeking to complete the group stage with another victory.