Zimbabwe, Algeria, and Namibia impress on Day One of Rugby Africa Cup

Rugby Africa Cup/ World Cup Qualifier 
Results 
Zimbabwe 43 Morocco 8 
Algeria 41 Cote D’Ivoire 6 
Namibia 55 Senegal 17 

The Rugby Africa Cup got off to a thrilling start, with Zimbabwe, Algeria, and Namibia all securing dominant victories on the opening day of the tournament.

Zimbabwe, who share the same side of the draw as Uganda, opened the day’s action at 10 a.m. with a commanding 43–8 win over newly promoted Morocco.

Ian Prior was instrumental for the Sables, contributing five penalties and four conversions. Zimbabwe’s tries came from Tapiwa Mafura, Edward Sigauke, Trevor Gurwe, and Dylan Utete.

Morocco, in their return to top-flight continental rugby, managed a lone try through Hassan Haimiche, while Ilan Khattabi added a single penalty to complete their tally.

In the second game, Algeria overwhelmed Côte d’Ivoire with a dominant 41–6 victory. Although the first half was closely contested, Algeria took full control after the break to seal the win.

“The first half was tough. Côte d’Ivoire is a solid team, but we showed passion and resilience. I’m extremely proud of our performance,” said the Algerian player named Man of the Match.

The final match of the day featured a gripping quarterfinal clash between Senegal and Namibia. Both sides went toe-to-toe in an intense first half, but Namibia shifted gears in the second period, eventually pulling away to a resounding 55–17 victory.

With a Rugby World Cup spot on the line, every win in this knockout tournament carries massive weight. Advancing to the semifinals is a crucial step for all teams aiming for a place on the global stage.