Eight of Africa’s top rugby nations begin their fight today in Kampala for a single golden ticket to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The Rugby Africa Men’s Cup returns to Mandela National Stadium from 8 to 19 July, with Zimbabwe, Namibia, Uganda, Kenya, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Morocco and Senegal all eyeing continental glory and a place at the sport’s biggest showpiece in two years.
Zimbabwe come into the tournament as defending champions after breaking Namibia’s six-year dominance in 2024 with a commanding 29-3 win over Algeria.
Led by scrum-half Hilton Mudariki, the Sables open the tournament against Morocco in the first of four games on Match Day 1.
“There’s pressure, of course,” Mudariki said, “but we’ve built something strong over the last year and we’ll focus on that.”
Zimbabwe’s consistency will be tested early by Morocco, returning to the top tier after a seven-year absence. Captain Adil Achahbar knows it won’t be easy. “Facing Zimbabwe in the opener is tough, but we’re ready for it,” he said.
Algeria, last year’s surprise finalists, face Ivory Coast in the second game of the day. The Algerians are determined to go one better but know they’ll need to be calmer in key moments. “If we want to do better, we’ve got to manage pressure,” said captain Marvyn Youcef.
Ivory Coast are coming in as underdogs, ranked 58th in the world, but captain Élias Coulibaly is warning opponents not to underestimate them. “We’ve changed a lot since last year,” he said. “Expect a fight.”
Namibia, always a heavyweight in African rugby, begin their campaign against Senegal. Despite a heavy loss to Italy in June and the sudden departure of head coach Chrysander Botha, the Namibians remain focused under the guidance of Jacques Burger and captain Prince Gaoseb.
“It’s a competitive tournament, but that’s good for the game in Africa,” said Gaoseb. “We’ve worked on our set-pieces and being more clinical.”
Senegal’s Demba Kane knows the challenge ahead. “Namibia are the benchmark,” he said. “We’re excited to test ourselves.”
The day’s final clash brings the intensity of the Elgon Cup as hosts Uganda take on archrivals Kenya. It’s one of the fiercest rivalries on the continent and the stakes have never been higher.
Uganda’s captain Byron Oketayot is counting on the home fans to push them over the line. “There’s nothing like hearing your people in the stands,” he said. “We’re ready for whatever Kenya brings.”
Kenya, led by George Nyambua, is fresh off a month-long tour of South Africa and ready to bounce back after last year’s disappointment. “These are qualifiers—we’re not taking anything lightly,” Nyambua said.
All matches will be broadcast live on NBS Sport and streamed live on RugbyPass TV and the Rugby Africa Facebook page.
Match Day 1 Fixtures (Tuesday, 8 July)
- 10:00 – Zimbabwe vs Morocco
- 12:00 – Algeria vs Ivory Coast
- 14:00 – Namibia vs Senegal
- 16:00 – Uganda vs Kenya
