Saturday is a rugby day and today is no different as the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup kicks off at 10:00 am today.
Today, rugby moves to unfamiliar territory at Mandela National Stadium as eight of the top African nations tussle it out. With all the teams acclimatized to conditions, all that’s left is action. The tournament is a knockout competition, and all teams will be looking to secure a place in the semi-finals next week at Wankulukuku Stadium.
Namibia vs Burkina Faso 10:00 am
Namibia comes into the tournament as favourites, having won the last three editions consecutively. Additionally, they boast a wealth of experience, including consistent appearances at the Rugby World Cup. They will be looking to put their number 22 world rugby ranking to use with a win against the Burkinabe.On the other hand, ranked at 92, the Burkinabe will be playing their first test game in over a year.
Kenya vs Senegal 12:00 noon
The Simbas come into the first game with a score to settle from a previous encounter. In 2021, Senegal stunned Kenya at Nyayo Stadium 20-19. Despite missing the services of mercurial fullback Jone Kubu, the Kenyan contingent will be looking at securing a semi-final slot.Senegal will look to use their physicality to frustrate Kenya. Additionally, the team from Dakar has a good number of players plying their trade in the French leagues, whose experience they’ll be banking on.
Algeria vs Ivory Coast 2:00 pm
Both teams come into the tournament without playing test rugby in over a year. With Algeria ranked at 69 and the Ivorians 47 worldwide, this is expected to be a blockbuster of a game. Algeria has played in Uganda before, beating the Cranes at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds in 2021.
Uganda vs Zimbabwe 4:00 pm
The final piece of the day will be the hosts, Uganda, taking on a familiar foe in Zimbabwe. Uganda goes into the tournament off an immensely organized preparation that saw them camp in South Africa for 10 days. With Ivan Magomu and Phillip Wokorach, the Cranes look for nothing short of a win. Similarly, the Sables have had quite a decent preparation for the tournament. They’ll relish a 16th contest against the hosts, whom they have beaten a number of times.
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