RUGBY: Nigeria Face South Africa, Zambia, Mauritius in Rugby Africa Sevens Championship
Oru LeonardÂ
Nigeria’s national rugby sevens team, the Stallions, have been drawn in a challenging Pool A alongside African powerhouse South Africa, hosts Mauritius and Zambia for the 2026 Rugby Africa Sevens Championship scheduled for June 20-21 in Cascavelle, Mauritius.
The draw sets up a mouthwatering clash between Nigeria and South Africa’s celebrated Blitzboks, one of the most successful rugby sevens teams in the world.
According to Nigeria Rugby Media Officer, Tolu Oguntimehin, the fixture presents a major opportunity for the Stallions to test their progress against one of the sport’s global heavyweights.
While diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and South Africa have continued to generate headlines in recent years, attention in Mauritius will be focused on sporting rivalry as both sides battle for supremacy on the rugby field.
Nigeria will be seeking to advance from a competitive group that also includes the host nation and Zambia’s Nkwazi side.
The Stallions are aiming to improve on their seventh-place finish at the previous edition, where they reached the quarter-finals before losing to Kenya and eventually concluded the tournament with two victories and four defeats.
Elsewhere, Pool B comprises Ghana, Tunisia, Madagascar and Senegal, with Senegal replacing Uganda following the latter’s withdrawal amid concerns linked to an Ebola outbreak. Reports indicated that some members of the Ugandan delegation tested positive for the virus, although no players were affected.
Pool C features another strong lineup, with Zimbabwe, Kenya, Morocco and Madagascar set to contest one of the tournament’s most competitive groups.
With a fresh campaign ahead and a high-profile opening encounter against South Africa, Nigeria’s Stallions will be looking to demonstrate their growing stature and underline their ambition of joining Africa’s rugby elite.
