By: Geoffrey Mugabi
The Uganda senior women’s netball national team, the She Cranes, produced a stunning comeback to defeat Malawi 51-43 in the semifinals of the 2024 Africa Netball Cup on Friday afternoon.
This hard-fought victory propels the She Cranes into the final, where they will face Africa’s top-ranked team, South Africa.
Malawi dominated the opening quarter, taking a 14-8 lead. However, the She Cranes regrouped and staged a remarkable recovery, leveling the scores at 23-23 by halftime.
Nelson Bogere’s side continued to build momentum, taking the lead for the first time in the third quarter, with a 39-32 advantage.
In the final quarter, the She Cranes stretched their lead, ultimately defeating Malawi 51-43 to book their spot in the final.
This thrilling victory marks a remarkable turnaround for the She Cranes, who began the tournament with a narrow and shocking defeat to Zimbabwe.
They subsequently bounced back with convincing wins over hosts Namibia and Eswatini in Pool B.
The She Cranes will now face a formidable challenge in the final, as they take on Africa’s number one team, South Africa.
The South Africans stunned Zimbabwe 63-41 in the semifinals to set up a thrilling showdown with the She Cranes.
The final is scheduled to take place on Saturday afternoon at 3 pm. Uganda will be seeking their fourth title, with their most recent triumph coming in 2018.
