The Malawi National Netball Team, affectionately known as the Queens, has dropped to ninth place in the latest World Netball rankings, according to Nation Online. Tonga displaced Malawi to claim the eighth spot following the annual global ranking update. Netball Association of Malawi general secretary Yamikani Kauma described the slump as a cause for concern but emphasised it as a necessary period for reflection and rebuilding. Kauma noted that the association has already initiated high-performance programmes and local camps aimed at restoring the team's top-tier status ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Update: Following the Confederation of African Football's decision to reschedule the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, the tournament will now run from July 25 to August 16, 2026, reports Nation Online. The shift occurred just days after the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) broke the Scorchers' training camp. However, FAM operations director Gomezgani Zakazaka welcomed the delay as a blessing in disguise. He noted that the extended timeline provides the squad with necessary preparation time and allows injured key players, such as forward Temwa Chawinga, to fully recover before the continental tournament in Morocco.
Update: FAM recently concluded its Annual Football Awards in Blantyre on March 6 to crown the nation's top performers. Al Merrikh SC's recent signing Chikumbutso Salima bagged the Best Men's Player of the Year award, completing a double after earlier winning the TNM Super League Player of the Year honour. Deborah Henry of Silver Strikers Ladies was named the Best Women's Player of the Year. In the coaching categories, Mighty Wanderers' Bob Mpinganjira earned the Men's Coach of the Year title, while Andrew Chikhosi took home the women's equivalent.