The Nigeria Netball Federation has published its official statement reflecting on Nigeria's historic debut at the 2026 Africa Netball Cup and Netball World Cup Sydney 2027 Qualifier in Nairobi, Kenya. Nigeria's Green Hawks became the first West African nation to compete at the Africa Netball Cup, participating across five matches against Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania. The results were those of a programme at the beginning of its international journey - but the experience, the recognition received from World Netball and Africa Netball, and the foundation laid are what the Federation regards as the true outcomes of Nairobi. The statement also sets out the NNF's development roadmap for the period ahead: - Northern Zones Under-16 Championship, January 2027 - National Open Championship, February 2027 - Expansion of coaching and umpiring programmes nationwide - Development of Nigeria's first men's national netball pathway - Junior women's development programme - International partnerships with World Netball, Africa Netball and national federations "The establishment of the Green Hawks has given thousands of Nigerian girls a national team to aspire to. Our next responsibility is to ensure that a young girl who discovers netball today can progress through a properly structured pathway and one day represent Nigeria at the highest level." - Dr. Esther Oluwatoyin Aluko, President, Nigeria Netball Federation