Uganda’s start at the 2025 Africa Netball Championship in the Malawian capital Lilongwe was far from desirable.
The She Cranes survived a spirited comeback from the Kenya Divas to edge the tense Group B match 46–45 on Monday.
Rashid Mubiru’s charges, ranked 6th in the world—a feat that earned them a slot at the 2027 World Cup, went into the fixture at the Griffin Saenda Sports Complex as overwhelming favourites and played as such in the opening 15 minutes, but faded as the game progressed and barely got over the line.
For their second game of the tournament on Tuesday, drastic measures were needed for the She Cranes. Facing Zimbabwe, a better-ranked team than Kenya that gave them a bloody nose, the Ugandans had no room for error.
Mubiru shuffled the starting seven with vet Lilian Ajio making way for Faridah Kadondi in the defensive circle. Gloria Aya joined Kadondi in the circle with Shaffie Nalwanja moving to Wing Defence while Norah Lunkuse was slotted in at Wing Attack for Lilian Achola to join her young sibling, Margaret Bagala, in feeding shooters Rachael Nanyonga and Shadiah Nassanga.
The closely contested opening quarter ended 12 goals apiece, but the She Cranes started to create separation in the second quarter to take a six-goal (26-20) lead into the halftime break.
The introduction of Achola for Lunkuse in the third quarter injected new energy into the attack, while at the back, Aya was having a near-perfect game, complemented by Nalwanja and Kadondi. Zimbabwe were limited to just 7 goals as She Cranes asserted their dominance to lead by 18 (45-27) at the end of the period.
The fourth quarter was a formality for the Ugandans who wrapped a 59-38 victory to stay perfect at the event.
The She Cranes return to action on Thursday against Namibia for their last group fixture.