Uganda’s Rugby Cranes 7’s team is on the verge of clinching Gold at the 13th African Games in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. The team’s journey to potential victory unfolded dramatically on Day 3 of the men’s rugby event, with impressive victories over Burkina Faso (24-14) and the host nation, Ghana (22-05).
Against Burkina Faso, Uganda crossed the try line four times, with Philip Wokorach converting two of them. Denis Etwau, Aaron Ofoywroth, and Nobert Okeny were instrumental in scoring Uganda’s tries. In the subsequent match against Ghana, Uganda secured another commanding win, with tries from Wokorach, Ofoyrwoth, Alex Aturinde, and two conversions by Wokorach.
Reflecting on the victories, Etwau acknowledged the team’s initial struggles against Burkina Faso but highlighted their resilience and adaptability in overcoming challenges, stating,
“The first game against Burkina Faso was a bit tough, we made some errors, we didn’t play in our game plan but managed to win. The second game against Ghana, we had to polish up the mistakes we made in the first game, and we were all out.”
Captain Ian Munyani expressed immense pride in the team’s performance, emphasizing their unwavering focus on securing Gold, saying,
“Very proud of the boys, we came to Ghana with one goal and that is to win Gold and we are taking each game at hand, staying in the fight. I can’t ask for anything more from them. We are just hoping for the best in our last two games against Benin and Kenya; we are counting on God’s blessings to emerge victorious and walk away with Gold.”
With an undefeated record so far, Uganda leads the Gold medal bracket with 12 points, followed closely by Ghana and Burkina Faso, both tied at 7 points. Tunisia is in fourth place with 6 points, while Kenya, Benin and Zimbabwe are tied at 4 points.
The Rugby Cranes 7’s team has showcased exceptional skill and dominance, winning all four of their matches convincingly. Their upcoming matches against Benin and Kenya present opportunities to solidify their quest for Gold
