Malawi National Netball Team coach Debbie Fuller has rated the upcoming Africa Netball Cup/Netball World Cup qualifiers as more important than the Commonwealth Games.
The Queens are currently in camp in Blantyre ahead of the competition which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from September 19-26.
Fuller, who arrived in the country on Wednesday from her home in New Zealand, said the tournament carries greater significance as Malawi seeks qualification for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
The New Zealander is preparing for her second tournament since taking charge of the Queens, guiding them to a seventh place finish at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Fuller believes the Nairobi assignment presents a bigger challenge and opportunity for Malawi.
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“I have not been to an Africa Cup before, but what I have seen is that the competition is fierce and the rivalry between the countries is very high.
So you combine that with the fact that you have to qualify for the World Cup.
At the end of the day, you get what you deserve,” she said.
Malawi finished seventh at the 2023 Netball World Cup in South Africa and fourth at the 2025 Africa Netball Cup in Lilongwe.
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“This competition is more important than the Commonwealth Games.
This is a qualifying competition for the World Cup. So, in a way, the Commonwealth Games has been a preparation opportunity for us to go to another level,” Fuller said.
The Queens are currently ranked eighth in the world and third in Africa.
Fuller also confirmed that Australia-based goal shooter Mwawi Kumwenda will be available for the continental showpiece.
“I am very excited.
Whenever you have the opportunity to bring a world-class player like Mwawi into your team, you know it’s a huge value addition. Takondwa [Lwazi] is an amazing captain and drives the team. But to have somebody like Mwawi come in is just an extra,” she said.
Six teams have already qualified for the World Cup based on December 1 2025 World Netball rankings.
The teams are hosts Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, England, South Africa and Uganda.
The remaining 10 places will be decided through five regional qualifying tournaments, with the top two teams from each region making it.
Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) president Vitumbiko Gubuduza said the Queens are in good spirits.
