Cover photo: Last year’s Nations Cup Final. Image England Netball
The Netball Nations Cup was back in 2025. And there was a very African feel to this year’s tournament. England played host to South Africa, Uganda, and Malawi. The tournament was held over two weekends, starting with the first two rounds at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham on February 1 & 2, then moving to Copper Box Arena in London for the third round and finals on February 8 & 9.
As the highest-ranked nation and playing at home, the Roses were favoured to win. They had a strong squad, although sadly their versatile attacker Lois Pearson had to pull out and was replaced by another young gun in Emma Thacker. The three African teams were ranked directly below England and put on a show to challenge them.
South Africa won the Africa Netball Cup in December, and having just come from a three test series against Jamaica, they were match fit. Unfortunately, they also lost a player to injury, defender Nicola Smith. Ranked second in Africa, Uganda are always competitive, while Malawi was looking to improve on recent performances which have been below their normal standard.
Viewers in the United Kingdom watched the Vitality Netball Nations Cup through Sky Sports and their YouTube channel. International viewers watched through Netball Pass.
TEAMS
ENGLAND

Image: May Bailey | Clusterpix Photo via Netball Scoop
SOUTH AFRICA

Image – Danny Dalton
UGANDA

Image: Graeme Laughton-Mutu
MALAWI

Image: May Bailey
DRAW & RESULTS
(UK Times)
DAY 1
SOUTH AFRICA 70 def UGANDA 45
(19-13, 33-25, 51-31, 70-45)
POTM: Kamogelo Maseko (RSA)
ENGLAND 62 def MALAWI 36
(17-13, 31-24, 43-32, 62-36)
POTM: Paige Reed (ENG)
DAY 2
MALAWI 59 def UGANDA 45
(12-14, 28-25, 42-37, 59-45)
POTM: Joyce Mvula (MAL)
SOUTH AFRICA 61 def ENGLAND 59
(14-14, 30-30, 46-46, 61-59)
POTM: Sanmarie Visser (RSA)
DAY 3
SOUTH AFRICA 58 def MALAWI 55
(15-13, 31-28, 46-40, 58-55)
POTM: Nichole Breedt (RSA)
ENGLAND 59 def UGANDA 48
(11-12, 29-28, 42-42, 59-48)
POTM: Halimat Adio (ENG)
DAY 4
3v4 PLAYOFF:
UGANDA 50 def MALAWI 45
(11-14, 26-23, 38-37, 50-45)
POTM: Mary Cholhok (UGA)
FINAL:
ENGLAND 61 def SOUTH AFRICA 55
(12-15, 30-28, 46-43, 61-55)
POTM: Funmi Fadoju (ENG)
PLAYER OF THE SERIES: Liv Tchine (ENG)