NAIROBI, KENYA – Following their hard-fought opening day victory, the Protea Warriors demonstrated their championship mettle once again on Day 2 of the 2026 Africa Netball Cup. In a thrilling, tightly contested encounter, the South African men’s team secured a 47-40 victory over Uganda at the Moi International Sports Centre, making it two wins from two matches.
Just like their Day 1 clash against Eswatini, the defending champions had to come from behind. Uganda started aggressively, establishing a 13-9 lead in a physical first quarter characterized by heavy defensive pressure.
Halftime Deficit and Tactical Battles
South Africa found another gear early in the second quarter, quickly closing the gap to 13-11 within the first 90 seconds. However, Uganda managed to maintain a slender 23-22 advantage as the teams headed into the halftime break.
The third quarter developed into a tight, tactical arm-wrestle. By the midway point of the period, there was absolutely nothing to separate the two sides at 28-all. The Protea Warriors then injected some pace into their game, carving out a two-goal lead (32-30) with just two minutes remaining in the quarter. But a momentary lapse in concentration, an errant pass followed by an offensive penalty, allowed the Ugandans to claw back, leaving the match locked at a tense 32-32 heading into the final 15 minutes.
A Nerve-Wracking Final Quarter
With everything to play for, the final quarter was a battle of attrition. Both teams pushed their defensive lines exceptionally high, forcing the attacking units to rely on looping overhead passes to bypass the intense pressure.
With 10 minutes remaining, the scores were still deadlocked at 36-all. The mounting defensive intensity led to a flurry of penalties on both ends, and the teams continued to trade blows, taking the score to 38-38. It became a pure test of nerve, with teams merely trading goals off their respective centre passes.
The turning point finally arrived with just six minutes left on the clock. A crucial steal by the South African defence was clinically converted into a goal. By successfully scoring off their subsequent restart, the Warriors nudged ahead 40-38, their first lead of the quarter, and the pressure shifted entirely onto Uganda.
Closing It Out
Under immense pressure in the final four minutes, Uganda’s composure cracked. Another turnover mistake led to a second vital steal for South Africa, providing the gap they needed to stretch the lead to 45-39 with just over a minute to play. Uganda completely lost their momentum in the dying moments, allowing the Protea Warriors to finish the match on a decisive 9-2 scoring streak. The late surge made the 47-40 final scoreline look far more comfortable than the gruelling on-court battle suggested.
Next Up: Clash with the Hosts
The Protea Warriors have no time to rest as they look to make it three wins in a row. They will take on tournament hosts Kenya tomorrow morning at 09:00 (SA Time).
Fans can continue to follow the action from Nairobi as the Protea Warriors defend their African crown. All matches for the 2026 Africa Netball Cup are streamed LIVE and FREE on Discover Sport at https://www.discoversport.com/.
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