Zimbabwe overcame the embarrassment of losing to minnows Burkina Faso in the quarterfinals to settle for fifth position after a 28-19 victory against Kenya on the second day of the first leg of the Africa Men’s Sevens in Mauritius on Sunday.
The Cheetahs’ fifth place finish at the Labourdonnais Sports Grounds in Mauritius meant they claimed 12 points and need to go all the way in the second leg next to remain with a chance of winning the two legged competition.
Uganda were crowned the winners of the opening leg of the Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens after 31-12 victory over Madagascar.
The East Africans bagged 20 points and now lead the Africa Men’s 7s table, putting them in pole position to secure a ticket to the 2025 World Challenger Series.
Madagascar is second on the standings with eight points while South Africa finished third with16 points following a 35-7 win over Burkina Faso, who earned 14 points for their performance.
With this win, Uganda bagged 20 points and now lead the Africa Men’s 7s table, putting them in pole position to secure a ticket to the 2025 World Challenger Series.
Kenya Morans settled for sixth place in the Africa Men’s 7s after losing 28-19 to Zimbabwe Cheetahs in the fifth-place playoff match at Labourdonnais Sports Grounds, Mauritius.
West Africans Ivory Coast earned 8 points after finishing seventh ahead of hosts Mauritius who claimed six points.
Zambia (4), Nigeria (3), Tunisia (2), and Algeria on a single point, completed the standings.
The teams will now shift their focus to the second leg set for next weekend, where they will continue to battle for title and a chance to qualify for the 2025 World Rugby Challenger Series.
AFRICA MENS 7S DAY 2 RESULTS
Quarterfinals:
Uganda (5) 10-10 (0) Ivory Coast (after extra-time)
Kenya Morans 7-12 South Africa
Zimbabwe Cheetahs 21-24 Burkina Faso
Madagascar 12-5 Mauritius
Ninth places semis –
Zambia 28-21 Algeria
Nigeria 19-5 Tunisia
Fifth place semis
Ivory Coast 7-22 Kenya
Zimbabwe Cheetahs 42-7 Mauritius
Cup semis
Uganda 12-0 South Africa
Burkina Faso 19-24 Madagascar AET
Finals
Ninth Place
Zambia 23-7 Nigeria
Fifth place
Kenya 19-28 Zimbabwe
Third place
South Africa 35-7 Burkina Faso
Final
Uganda 31-12 Madagascar