Zimbabwe have qualified for the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, ending a 36-year wait, after a dramatic 32-30 win over Namibia in the Rugby Africa Men’s Cup final at Mandela National Stadium.
The Sables successfully defended their title in a fiercely contested match.
“We want to go there and compete and put Zimbabwe on the map,” declared player of the match, Godfrey Muzanargwo, highlighting the team’s ambition beyond mere participation. He credited the victory to strong support from home, dedicated coaches, and relentless teammates.
The final was a nail-biter, with both sides trading points throughout. Zimbabwe took an early lead, but Namibia consistently fought back, leveling the scores at 16-16 by halftime.
Zimbabwe appeared to take control in the second half, with tries from Muzanargwo and Brandon Mudzekenyedzi, but Namibia mounted a late resurgence, narrowing the gap to two points in the final minutes.
A last-gasp penalty attempt by Namibia’s Tiaan Swanepoel in the 79th minute went just wide, sealing Zimbabwe’s historic win.
Namibia will still have a chance to qualify, facing the United Arab Emirates next Saturday in an Asia/Africa play-off. The winner will advance to the Final Qualification Tournament in November.
Earlier in the day, Algeria secured third place with a 15-5 win over Kenya, while Senegal dramatically defeated Morocco 33-28 in the fifth-place final. Hosts Uganda avoided relegation by beating Ivory Coast 37-17.
