The Senior Men Rugby National Team, the Black Stallions, have qualified for the final phase of Paris 2024 Olympic Games Africa qualification holding in Zimbabwe. This is after they finished second behind Algeria at pre Olympic qualifiers in Mauritius earlier in the year.
The Black Stallions announced its 12 man squad for the all-important Africa Cup 7s Tournament.
According to Obong Ntiense Williams a.k.a Mr. Rugby, the team is predominantly foreign based, but for one domestic player who is the former National 7’s Captain, Onoru Oyiza Jatto.
Coach Steve Lewis has made three changes to the team from Mauritius bringing in forward player; Richard Adeniyi-Jones and two Playmakers; Aristide Goualin and Ogheneloyeme Macaulay.
The team is presently at the Zesa Training Center in Harare for the final phase of camp ahead of the Competition which will see Nigeria play Kenya, Namibia and Zambia in pool B of the tournament to be held at the Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe on Saturday and Sunday 16-17 September, 2023.
Africa Cup 2013 Pools
Pool A: South Africa, Madagascar, Tunisia, Cote D’Ivoire
Pool B: Kenya, Namibia, Zambia, Nigeria
Pool C: Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Algeria
Possible qualifiers from the Group
Pool A:- South Africa & Tunisia / Madagascar
Pool B:- Kenya & Nigeria / Namibia
Pool C:- Uganda & Zimbabwe / Tunisia
Out of these possible 9 teams, 8 will qualify for the Quarter – Finals, whilst the remaining 4 teams will slog it out for rankings / standings between 9th – 12th position.
Nigeria should be able to come at least 8th position once they can win 2 Games from their group matches which is Zambia and possibly Namibia.
Kenya will definitely be a tall order because they will be coming for this sole ticket which they lost to Uganda the last time out.
But if Nigeria can’t qualify from the Group, then they will fight for the rankings between 9th – 12th position.