Namibia moves up netball rankings

Country climbs two places
The top positions are filled by Netball World Cup 2023 winners Australia, followed by New Zealand and England.
  • 1 Year Ago 18 December 2023
World Netball last week updated the world rankings, which saw Namibia break into the top 20 best netballing nations of the world.

Namibia was previously ranked 22nd by World Netball (WN) and has now moved up two places.

WN said the rankings include the results from the international series that took place from 30 September to 10 December, with 84 matches taking place across five regions.

Namibia was rewarded in the rankings for success in the Africa Netball Cup, earning silver medals at the Africa Netball Cup, which took place in Gaborone, Botswana, from 28 November to 7 December.

The top positions stay the same with the Netball World Cup 2023 winners Australia remaining first, followed in second by New Zealand, England in third and Jamaica in fourth.

Unwavering dedication

Netball Namibia (NN) president Rebekka /Goagoses expressed gratitude for the feat, stating that Namibia's top 20 world ranking reflects the unwavering dedication of the netball community.

“The silver medal at the Africa Netball Cup was a testament to the skill, resilience and sportsmanship of the Debmarine Desert Jewels.

“This accomplishment not only elevates our standing in the global netball fraternity, but also underscores the bright future that lies ahead for Namibian netball. The board of NN will not tire to appreciate the hardworking coaching and technical staff whose expertise played a pivotal role in shaping the team's success," she said.

“We also commend the dedication of our beautiful Debmarine Desert Jewels for their outstanding performance and relentless pursuit of excellence. Looking forward, NN is resolute in its ambition to ascend further up the rankings ladder,” /Goagoses added.

Aiming higher

While the association celebrates the achievement, their eyes are fixed on higher aspirations, she noted.

“To achieve our goals of qualifying for the next World Cup and Commonwealth Games, we acknowledge the need to continually challenge ourselves. Strengthening our domestic league and initiating test series and seeking opportunities to participate in international competitions are the next logical steps, strategic moves that will not only raise our competitiveness but also bring us closer to our targets."

As the curtains draw on a remarkable year, /Goagoses said NN revels in the achievements of 2023 and envisions a future where Namibian netball continues to soar to unprecedented heights.