ACCRA, Ghana– The top teams have pulled away from the pack at the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens after recording their second consecutive wins in round two of the competition her in Accra.
Uganda, Kenya and South Africa – who swept aside their opponents to emphatically win their opening games – have been joined by Zambia, Tunisia and Madagascar on the 100 percent mark before the last round of play on day one.
The dangerous Joyce Mumba, always lurking around the ball, was a thorn in the flesh for Côte d’Ivoire as her five tries for Zambia condemned the Ivorians to a 43-7 defeat in the second round of Pool C.
Uganda, the other form team in the group, also made it two out of two with another solid shift. Hat-tricks by the imaginative Unity Namulala and the robust Lybia Mamabiro were the highlight of the Ugandans’ comfortable 39-0 win over Senegal.
In Pool B, Madagascar continued to make a strong statement in the tournament, dispatching struggling Mauritius 42-7. Olivia Hanitrinlaina crossed over twice Eluriche Rasoanekena, Jinah Razanamahefa, Valery Razanifindrina and Zouanah Fanantenana also scored for the Lady Makis.
Ghana conceded late twice against Pool B’s top side, Kenya, losing narrowly 10-5 in a much improved all-round performance by the hosts. Grace Okulu came at the end of a swift move by the half-backs to score for the Kenyans at the stroke of half time. Mary Plange then brought parity for Ghana but Christabel Lindo thrust a dagger into Ghanaians hearts with a very late try.
In Pool A, Tunisia won again, brushing aside Burkina Faso 47-0 after earlier resistance from the West Africans.
In a Southern African derby to complete Pool B’s second round, South Africa were ruthless against their struggling neighbours, spanking them 38-0. The ever-running Liske Lategan was a double-scorer with Nadine Roos, Ayanda Malinga and Maria Tshiremba also getting over.
Three winning nations of the 2024 tournament will qualify for the 2025 Challenger Series, a World Rugby International Competition.
The 2024 Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens tournament is accessible to the public with free admission. All 34 matches are available for streaming on Supersport OTT Channel 950. In addition, matches are available for free streaming on Rugby Pass TV, Rugby Africa’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Match Day 1: Saturday 9 November 2024 (Local Ghana Time) (GMT)
Game 1: Zambia vs Senegal (9:00)
Game 2: Uganda vs Cote d’Ivoire (9:22)
Game 3: Ghana vs Madagascar (9:44)
Game 4: Kenya vs Mauritius (10:06)
Game 5: Tunisia vs Zimbabwe (10:28)
Game 6: South Africa vs Burkina Faso (10:50)
Game 7: Zambia vs Côte d’Ivoire (11:44)
Game 8: Uganda vs Senegal (12:06)
Game 9: Madagascar vs Mauritius (12:28)
Game 10: Kenya vs Ghana (12:50)
Game 11: Tunisia vs Burkina Faso (13:12)
Game 12: South Africa vs Zimbabwe (13:34)
Game 13: Senegal vs Cote d’Ivoire (14:50)
Game 14: Uganda vs Zambia (15:12)
Game 15: Kenya vs Madagascar (15:34)
Game 16: Zimbabwe vs Burkina Faso (15:56)
Game 17: South Africa vs Tunisia (16:18)
Game 18: Ghana vs Mauritius (16:40)
Streaming
SuperSport: OTT 950
Rugby Pass TV: https://rugbypass.tv/home
Rugby Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RugbyAfrique
Rugby Africa YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RugbyAfrique
Pool A: South Africa, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso
Pool B: Kenya, Madagascar, Ghana, Mauritius
Pool C: Uganda, Zambia, Senegal, Côte D’Ivoire
Written by Enock Muchinjo
