ESWATINI RANKED 42ND IN WORLD NETBALL

MBABANE – Eswatini’s National netball team has made significant strides in the World Netball (WN) rankings, now sitting in 42nd place, just behind India, which holds the 41st spot out of 50 countries.

The rankings, which were updated based on matches played up to November 26, 2024, mark an impressive leap for the country. In 2023, Eswatini was ranked 28th out of 43 nations, a standing that was a reflection of their growing participation in international competitions. This latest ranking is the country’s first improvement since it broke into the World Netball charts last year. Prior to their World Cup appearance in South Africa earlier this year, Eswatini netball had not been ranked due to their absence from major international tournaments.
World Netball recently released the updated rankings, which reflect games played until March 1, 2024.

International

Historically, the Kingdom of Eswatini did not qualify for a ranking due to its failure to compete in international events. Despite missing out on qualifying for the Netball World Cup, the first-ever tournament held on African soil in South Africa, Eswatini’s netball team has now established itself as one of the rising forces in the region. According to the World Netball rankings, Australia remains the number one team globally, while South Africa sits proudly in fifth place, and is the top-ranked African team.  To be eligible for a ranking, a country must play a minimum of six international test matches during the rating period.

Rating

If a team plays fewer than the required matches, they can still have a rating, but without a full ranking. To officially secure a ranking, teams must compete in at least two games against rated sides. Since its introduction in 2007, the World Netball ranking system has undergone regular reviews by the WN Board, ensuring its accuracy and reliability in reflecting the strength of international teams. This ranking system is crucial for seeding teams in international competitions, with the highest-ranked teams often receiving the advantage of a free pass to the semi-finals, bypassing the elimination stage.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: