The Baby SPAR Proteas secured their final spot in Netball World Youth Cup 2025 Africa Regional Qualifiers on Thursday with an emphatic 61-25 victory over Namibia to extend their unbeaten run to six matches in the competition.
🇿🇦🆚🇳🇦
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) March 21, 2024
Netball World Youth Cup 2025 Qualifiers Africa 🌍
UNBEATEN and heading to the FINAL! 🙌
🇿🇦61-25🇳🇦✅
🇿🇦44-19🇲🇼✅
🇿🇦70-16🇰🇪✅
🇿🇦62-29🇿🇼✅
🇿🇦72-10🇿🇲✅
🇿🇦75-07🇹🇿✅#SPARBabyProteas | #SAU21 | #TogetherWeRise | #NWYC2025GIB pic.twitter.com/WXiHvnRLUJ
Namibia enjoyed a rest day on Wednesday while the Baby Proteas were high in confidence following their win against Malawi on Wednesday night.
South Africa have so far been the most consistent and tactically disciplined of all the teams and they continued on that trajectory as they worked tirelessly to clinch the first quarter 17-4.
Baby Proteas coach Precious Mthembu had earlier indicated that her players were taking some strain due to a series of back-to-back games and it was showing in this match. However, the team soldiered on to extend their lead (33-9).
In the championship quarter, South Africa made a few substitutions to inject some fresh legs into the game.
They remained solid in defence throughout the match and eventually took the spoils 61-25.
Player of the Match - Renezia Andrews 🇿🇦
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) March 21, 2024
Netball World Youth Cup 2025 Qualifiers Africa 🌍
🇿🇦🆚🇳🇦#SPARBabyProteas | #SAU21 | #TogetherWeRise | #NWYC2025GIB pic.twitter.com/VLPt8L3qCz
"We had a pretty slow start to the game; you could see that the girls really took a beating – the bodies and legs are growing tired. Good thing we have a rest day tomorrow so we can recover. I am grateful that we had a good win and want to congratulate Namibia for a good game as well.
"I hear people are saying that we have already qualified for the Netball World Youth Cup 2025 in Gibraltar, but we still have one more game to play over the weekend. For now our feet are firmly on the ground,” said Mthembu post-match.
In the second match of the day, Malawi beat Zambia 54-35.
🇿🇲🆚🇲🇼
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) March 21, 2024
Netball World Youth Cup 2025 Qualifiers Africa 🌍
Zambia shows resilience, but Malawi secures a fourth win at the Africa Qualifiers. 👏
#TogetherWeRise | #NWYC2025GIB pic.twitter.com/4LA2oBS4bD
The final match saw Namibia, who earlier lost against South Africa, secure a thrilling last-second 44-44 draw against Kenya after trailing for the better part of the game
🇳🇦🆚🇰🇪
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) March 21, 2024
Netball World Youth Cup 2025 Qualifiers Africa 🌍
Persistent determination from Kenya, but what a spectacular comeback from Namibia to secure the draw at the final whistle. 👏 #TogetherWeRise | #NWYC2025GIB pic.twitter.com/wWs79MZCa9
Friday, 22 March 2024 Fixtures
12pm – Namibia v Zambia
2pm – Kenya v Tanzania
4pm – Malawi v Zimbabwe