ZAMBIA’S hopes of sending both the men’s and women’s national netball teams to this year’s Africa Netball Cup have collapsed after Netball Zambia failed to raise the required K1.2 million needed for the trip to Lilongwe, Malawi.
The tournament, set for December 8-14, will now go on without the defending queens, leaving players heartbroken.
Netball Zambia secretary general Pritchard Ngoma said the decision comes after weeks of writing proposals and chasing potential partners, of which the money simply could not be found.
“It is with great disappointment that we announce the withdrawal of our Men’s and Women’s National Teams from the 2025 Africa Netball Cup,” said Ngoma.
The federation revealed that holding out any longer would risk penalties from the organisers, which forced them to pull the plug earlier than they hoped.
The blow lands hardest on the women’s team, which made history in 2023 by winning their first-ever Africa Netball Cup title.
Instead, the players who were already in camp preparing for the tournament will now pack their bags and head home.
The governing body said it remains hopeful that 2026 will bring better funding for the country’s netball heroes.
By George Musonda
Kalemba November 26, 2025
