Uganda’s Kampala – July 20, 2024 The Sables of Zimbabwe maintained composure in a suspenseful match against their hosts, Uganda, winning 22–20 to advance to the Rugby Africa Cup semi-final in Kampala’s Nelson Mandela International Stadium.
Zimbabwe will now play its bitter rival Namibia on July 24 as a result of the victory. Kudzai Mashawi, Takudzwa Musingwini, and Edward Sigauke’s first-half tries gave the Sables a comfortable 22-point advantage at halftime.
Uganda turned the pendulum of the match in the favour responding with 20 points in the second half.Zimbabwean Captain Hilton Mudariki is pleased with the win.
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Sables in action against Uganda.
“It’s great to get this win. It takes us a step further and we know what we have to fix in the next match,” he said.
Head Coach Pieter Benade reiterated Mudariki’s sentiments as the team prepares for Namibia.
“Namibia’s game will be a lot different credits to the Ugandans for their very skilled and physical approach but against Namibia will be a game of set pieces and discipline,”
The team received a standing ovation by a small crowd of fans who had waved Zimbabwean flags and cheered on.
A trick encounter now lies ahead for the Zimbabwe senior men’s national rugby team as they are set to face arch-rivals Namibia in the semi-finals of the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup which is taking place in Kampala, Uganda.
The 2024 edition of the tournament features eight nations and these are: Burkina Faso, Namibia, Senegal, Kenya, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Namibia, who beat Kenya in last year’s final, have lifted the Rugby Africa Cup a record nine times, while South Africa have won three titles.
Kenya and Morocco have also lifted the Cup twice, while Uganda and Zimbabwe have each won the Cup once. Zimbabwe’s match against Namibia is scheduled to start at 4pm
Sable Player
Sables Supporters in Uganda.
