South Africa Defeats Uganda to Win Africa Netball Cup, She Cranes Settle for Silver

Summary:

• Uganda’s She Cranes claimed silver after losing to South Africa’s SPAR Proteas 65-50 in the Africa Netball Cup final. South Africa secured their fourth continental title, while Uganda, aiming for their fourth win, fell short.

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Uganda’s She Cranes settled for silver after losing to South Africa’s SPAR Proteas in the final of the Africa Netball Cup on Saturday at the MTC Dome in Swakopmund, Namibia.

The victory secured South Africa’s fourth continental title since the tournament’s inception in 2010. Previously, the Proteas triumphed in 2013, 2019, and 2021, but skipped the 2023 edition to prepare for the World Cup.

This defeat marks the second time South Africa has beaten Uganda in the final, having previously defeated the She Cranes in 2021. Uganda, which missed the 2023 edition due to internal leadership issues, was aiming for its fourth title, after winning in 2014, 2017, and 2018, but fell short against the Proteas.

In Saturday’s final, South Africa took control early, using their well-organized court structure and sharp attacking precision. The Proteas led 16-12 after the first quarter and extended their advantage to 30-24 at halftime.

Despite Uganda’s strong efforts in the midcourt and defense, South Africa’s clinical shooting and fluid teamwork widened the gap in the third quarter, as they outscored Uganda 20-9 to lead 50-33. The She Cranes struggled to keep pace in the final quarter and eventually lost 65-50.

The defeat was tough for Uganda, who had previously eliminated a determined Malawi team in the semi-finals. The She Cranes hoped to carry that momentum into the final, but were outclassed by South Africa, their closest continental rival.

“Things didn’t go as planned, but that’s sports—there’s always a win, a draw, or a loss. You just have to accept the outcome,” said She Cranes captain Irene Eyaru after the game. Eyaru acknowledged that their attempt to match South Africa’s high-speed play disrupted their usual style.

“We had a lot of blind passes, which we couldn’t immediately rectify. And the speed we were using was nearly the same as South Africa’s. If we had stuck to our style and played at a slower pace, it would have been harder for them to mark us,” Eyaru added.

In individual accolades, Uganda’s centre court star, Margaret Baagala, was named the Best Centre Player of the tournament, thanks to her impeccable court vision and management throughout the competition.