Nigeria’s national netball team is stepping up preparations for the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027 African Qualifier, with head coach Alison Akinrinsola urging her players to believe in themselves and embrace the opportunity to make history for the country.
The team is currently training in London as preparations intensify for the African qualifier scheduled for September 19–26, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya.
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Akinrinsola has been encouraged by the team’s recent international exposure, having faced Jamaica, Pakistan and Scotland in friendly matches before the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last month.
The coach believes those encounters have given the players valuable experience and a better understanding of what will be required when they face some of Africa’s best teams in Nairobi.
“We have seen where we are, we know the areas we need to improve, and we are working hard to get better,” Akinrinsola said.
She added that the team is using every training session to improve its tactical understanding, build stronger combinations and develop the confidence required to compete against quality opposition.
Her message to the players has been one of confidence, discipline and unity as Nigeria prepares for a competition where two World Cup places are at stake.
“We are not going there just to participate. We are going there to compete and fight for Nigeria,” she said.
Nigeria will line up alongside South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Tanzania in the African qualifier.
South Africa and Uganda have already secured World Cup places through the ranking route, making the Nairobi tournament particularly important for Nigeria and the other teams chasing the remaining African opportunities.
With the players training in London, Akinrinsola and her technical team are focused on building a cohesive squad capable of handling the pressure and intensity of the competition.
The coach believes the team’s recent international experience, combined with the current preparations, can give Nigeria the confidence needed to challenge strongly in Nairobi.
For Nigeria, the mission is simple: prepare well, believe strongly and fight for a historic ticket to Sydney.
