RESULTS
Uganda 57-46 Malawi
South Africa 72 – 46 Tonga
Uganda beat Malawi 57-46 in their World Cup 2023 play-off on Friday as South Africa dazed Tonga 72-46 to set a fifth place battle fixed for Sunday at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on the day the ten-day tournament climaxes.
Uganda lost 50-52 to South Africa in a game that put both sides’ fans on their toes.
On Friday, Uganda beat Malawi for the first time at a Netball World Cup stage – which win assured the She Cranes a fifth-place playoff on Sunday.
The result on Sunday will leave Uganda with an achievement of the highest placing at a World Cup. The country’s previous highest placing in their three other tournament appearances was seventh place in 2019 in Liverpool.
On Friday Uganda took a four-goal lead in the early stages of the game but Malawians recovered and started executing well-calculated moves. The Queens’ goal attack Mwai Kumwenda commanded the circle, keeping her space well to take her team to within one goal. And soon shooter Joyce Mvula scored the equaliser in the last minute of the first quarter and landed another chance that put her side in the lead but Uganda got one back as it ended in a 14-all.
At the start of the second quarter, Mvula landed two goals in quick succession to hand Malawi the lead again. It wasn’t to last though as the She Cranes overtook them once again.
The game turned physical as both sides displayed their typical African netball style with players running hard at the ball – a situation that left Uganda coach Fred Mugerwa up and out of his seat at the side of the court throughout the match – shouting instructions and pointing to where he wanted his players to move.
And Uganda responded to the coach’s instructions as goal shooter Mary Nuba sank four goals on the trot to give her team a 28-23 lead at halftime.
Uganda had the lion’s share of possession in the second quarter with 64 per cent and continued on the same trajectory in the third quarter, continuing to dominate Malawi in the third. This despite the efforts from the Malawi mid-court led by centre Takondwa Lwazi, to feed the ball through to their goal circle.
Uganda enjoyed a healthy 43-35 lead heading into the final 15 minutes. The She Cranes kept the distance between themselves and the Queens – frustrating their opponents to get any grip on the match.
With five minutes remaining, Uganda was 10 points clear and made certain of advancing to play for the fifth/sixth position on Sunday.
Coach Mugerwa said the players panicked a bit in the first quarter and realised what was at stake.
“The game was a bit tough and I told the girls to go out and fight. We wanted to win and that’s exactly what we did,” Mugerwa of the game in which his attacker – Shadiah Nassanga became the hottest item on the day – picking her third Most Valuable Player accolade of the tournament.
The tournament continues on Saturday with the semi-finals ahead of finals on Sunday.
Saturday
11th /12th placing match:
Fiji v Trinidad and Tobago@10am
Semi-Final 1: England v New Zealand@12noon
Semi-Final 2: Jamaica v Australia@5pm
9th /10th placing match: Scotland v Wales@7pm
Sunday
5th /6th placing match: Uganda v South Africa
- Semi-final losers@5pm
- Final@7pm
