Botswana men’s and women’s national netball teams finished their Africa Netball Cup campaigns with sixth-place finishes, capping off a demanding tournament that tested depth, resilience and character against the continent’s elite.
While the podium was painted green as South Africa’s men’s and women’s teams successfully defended their championships, Botswana left Lilongwe, Malawi, with valuable experience, standout individual performances and clear signs of progress.
The Botswana senior women’s team finished sixth overall after a hard-fought 50–40 defeat to Kenya in the 5th/6th place playoff. Facing one of Africa’s most disciplined sides, the ladies matched intensity for long spells, showing composure and defensive structure before Kenya edged ahead late. Despite the loss, Botswana’s campaign featured encouraging moments, including a commanding 55–35 victory over Tanzania, where Maungo Simone was named Player of the Match after a dominant all-round display.
Earlier in the tournament, the women narrowly missed out on key results, going down 46–42 to hosts Malawi in their opener and suffering a heavy 67–31 defeat to defending champions South Africa, a result that ended their semi-final hopes. Even so, the team’s fighting spirit remained evident, with close scorelines and improved cohesion highlighting growth as they measured them-selves against Africa’s best.
Botswana’s men mirrored the women’s final standing, also finishing sixth after a playoff loss to Uganda. Their campaign, however, was marked by several narrow and encouraging contests that underlined the team’s competitiveness. The men opened their tournament against reigning champions South Africa, falling 59–38 in a match that showcased the gulf in experience but also Bot-swana’s willingness to compete at a high tempo.
One of the defining moments of the men’s campaign came on Day Two, when Botswana lost to Uganda by the slimmest of margins, 40–39, in a thrilling encounter that demonstrated discipline, belief and tactical growth. The team also pushed Zimbabwe hard before going down 48–41 in another closely contested fixture.
Botswana did, however, register a statement win in the playoffs, defeating Malawi 53–33 to boost confidence and momentum heading into the 5th/6th place decider. Although Uganda ultimately claimed that playoff position, Botswana’s ability to bounce back with authority against Malawi reflected mental strength and depth within the squad.
Individually, Botswana had plenty to celebrate. Thuto Bogatsu emerged as one of the tournament’s standout performers, earning Man of the Match honours against Uganda and being named Best Mid-Court (Men) of the Tournament.
