Algeria and Zimbabwe will face off in the final of the Rugby Africa Cup 2024 on Sunday, 28th July, at Mandela National Stadium.
This comes after the two nations won their semifinal matches against Kenya and Namibia, respectively, on Wednesday.
Algeria had a disciplined performance against Kenya, beating the Simbas 20:12. Although Les Lionceaux scored first with a penalty, a powerful Kenyan pack forced itself over the whitewash for a try that was converted. Algeria then scored another try before Kenya closed the half with a five-pointer.
The teams went into halftime with Kenya leading 12:8.After the break, Algeria showed more composure in their decisions, trusting their boot. They scored four unanswered penalties to leapfrog Kenya and win the game. Kenya, on the other hand, has themselves to blame for their decisions in crucial moments of the game.
In the final match of the day, the Zimbabwean Sables showed their class, dispatching defending champions Namibia 32:10. Just like in their first game against Uganda, the Sables started the game in high gear. Two quick converted tries set up a 14:3 halftime lead for the Sables. The second half was one-way traffic for Zimbabwe as Namibia kept conceding.With a full-time score of 32:10, the Sables picked up their first win against Namibia in over six years.
In the other fifth-place playoffs, Senegal and Uganda set up a date for Sunday to decide which nation finishes fifth. Senegal outclassed Ivory Coast 25:8 in the first game at Namboole on Wednesday afternoon.
Similarly, hosts Uganda withstood a resilient Burkina Faso to win 25:15. Although the Cranes’ performance wasn’t impressive, a try from Shakim Ssembuusi gave them their first lead in the tournament. Starman Phillip Wokorach was also present on the score sheet, sending the Cranes to halftime with a 15:10 lead.
A dominant forwards performance earned a penalty try off the scrum later in the game. To cap it all, Phillip Wokorach made no mistakes with a 20-meter penalty. Rhinos scrumhalf Pool Kalungi came on for Conrad Wanyama and had an impactful cameo for his debut.
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