Nigeria Intensify World Cup Push as Netball Stars Sharpen Up in London

Posted : 22 August 2026

Nigeria’s quest for a historic appearance at the Netball World Cup has entered a crucial phase, with the national team stepping up preparations in London ahead of the 2027 African Qualifiers in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Nigerian squad is currently undergoing intensive training under head coach Alison Akinrinsola as the Nigeria Netball Federation seeks to assemble a competitive side capable of securing one of the two available World Cup tickets.

The African qualifier is scheduled for September 19 to 26 at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, where Nigeria will battle nine other countries for qualification to the global showpiece in Sydney, Australia.

President of the Nigeria Netball Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Aluko, said the Federation is determined to provide the team with the necessary support and preparation to compete effectively against the continent’s best.

Nigeria’s preparations have already included valuable international tests, with the team facing Jamaica, Pakistan and Scotland in friendly matches before the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Those encounters offered the players important exposure against experienced opposition while allowing the technical crew to assess the team’s strengths, weaknesses and tactical options.

The London camp is now providing another opportunity for Akinrinsola to work on combinations, fitness, tactical discipline and overall team cohesion before the squad travels to Nairobi.

While the immediate focus is on World Cup qualification, Aluko stressed that the Federation’s ambitions extend beyond the national team, with efforts also being made to strengthen coaching and officiating structures across the country.

“We are putting in a lot of effort to equip the coaches and umpires,” Aluko said.

As part of the development drive, the Federation has completed coaching and umpiring clinics in the South-South and South-East Zones. The South-West is expected to host its programme in the final week of August, while the Northern Zone clinic is scheduled for the first week of September.

The initiatives are aimed at improving technical standards, developing quality coaches and officials, and establishing a sustainable pathway for the growth of netball from the grassroots.

Nigeria, however, faces a difficult assignment in Nairobi, with South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Tanzania also in contention.

South Africa and Uganda have already booked their places at the 2027 World Cup through the World Netball ranking-based qualification route, leaving the remaining African contenders to fight for the available qualification opportunities in Nairobi.

The 2027 Netball World Cup will be held in Sydney from August 25 to September 5, 2027, giving Nigeria a clear target as the countdown to the African qualifier gathers pace.

For the Nigerian players, the challenge is to turn the lessons from their international friendlies and current London training camp into results when the decisive battle begins in Nairobi.

With preparations intensifying and the Federation simultaneously investing in the wider development of the sport, Nigeria’s netball community is hopeful that the current campaign will finally deliver a breakthrough on the World Cup stage.

The mission is straightforward: compete with confidence, overcome Africa’s leading contenders and secure Nigeria’s long-awaited ticket to Sydney 2027.

Nigeria Intensify World Cup Push as Netball Stars Sharpen Up in London

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