Nigeria’s national netball team has intensified preparations for the crucial Netball World Cup Sydney 2027 African Qualifier, with the players currently training in London under head coach Alison Akinrinsola as the Nigeria Netball Federation steps up efforts to produce a team capable of securing a historic World Cup ticket.
President of the Nigeria Netball Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Aluko, said the Federation is putting everything in place to ensure the national team is adequately prepared for the continental battle in Nairobi, Kenya.
Read Also: Nigeria Netball Federation Steps Up Technical Drive Ahead of Intermediate Games
The African qualifier is scheduled to take place from September 19 to 26, 2026, at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, with Nigeria among 10 African nations expected to compete for the two available World Cup qualification places.
The Nigerian players have already gained valuable international exposure ahead of the competition, having featured in friendly matches against Jamaica, Pakistan and Scotland before the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last month.
The international matches provided the squad with an opportunity to test its strength against quality opposition and exposed the players to different styles and levels of play ahead of the decisive African qualifier.
With the team now training in London, attention has shifted to fine-tuning the squad under Akinrinsola, strengthening combinations and ensuring the players are physically, technically and mentally prepared for the demands of the Nairobi tournament.
For Aluko, the preparation is part of a broader plan to reposition Nigerian netball and ensure the country is not merely represented at major international competitions but is capable of competing for honours.
“We are putting in a lot of effort to equip the coaches and umpires,” Aluko said, highlighting the Federation’s commitment to strengthening the technical foundation of the sport across the country.
The Federation has already concluded coaching and umpiring clinics in the South-South and South-East Zones, while the South-West is scheduled to hold its clinic in the final week of August. The Northern Zone programme is scheduled for the first week of September.
The technical development programme is designed to improve coaching standards, strengthen officiating and create a stronger pathway for the development of players across Nigeria.
The national team’s current preparations in London are therefore taking place alongside a wider restructuring of the sport at home, with the Federation seeking to build the technical capacity necessary to sustain the growth of netball.
Nigeria faces a formidable challenge in Nairobi, with South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Tanzania also featuring in the African competition.
South Africa and Uganda have already secured their places at the 2027 Netball World Cup through the World Netball ranking-based qualification route, making the Nairobi tournament particularly important for the remaining African contenders.
The top eligible teams from the African qualifier will secure invitations to the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia, scheduled for August 25 to September 5, 2027.
For Nigeria, the objective is now firmly established: convert the experience gained from playing Jamaica, Pakistan and Scotland into a strong competitive performance in Nairobi.
With the players training in London, Akinrinsola leading the technical preparations and the Federation strengthening its development programmes across the country, Aluko believes Nigeria is building towards a defining moment for the sport.
The ambition is clear — to assemble a well-prepared Nigerian team, compete strongly in Nairobi and earn the country a place at the 2027 Netball World Cup.
As the countdown continues, Nigeria’s road to Sydney is gathering momentum.
