South Africa have successfully secured a place in the Africa Men’s 7s final, setting up an intense showdown against Kenya 7s for the coveted ticket to the 2024 Olympics.
In a fiercely contested semi-final, the Blitzboks had to overcome the defending champions, Uganda, ultimately triumphing with a score of 26-14.
South Africa march on
The South African team had a relatively smooth journey through the tournament, displaying their dominance by conceding just 14 points in the opening four matches.
They wasted no time in the semi-final, with Zains Davids scoring an early try, which was expertly converted, giving the Blitzboks an initial 7-0 lead.
Uganda showcased their resilience and fought back, with Aaron Ofoywroth making a contribution to their score.
However, the Blitzboks extended their lead when Selyvin Davids crossed over for the second try, heading into halftime with a 14-7 advantage.
Uganda faced a setback as Pius Ogena sustained an injury during this period.
The second half saw Uganda mounting a determined comeback, pulling level at 14-14. Nevertheless, the Blitzboks surged ahead when Davids brilliantly set up Rosko Specman for a crucial try, restoring South Africa’s lead.
Uganda’s hopes dwindled further as they conceded a penalty due to a late tackle on Specman as he scored. Off the penalty, Davids capitalized on the opportunity, swiftly releasing Specman for his second successive try.
The stage is now set for a high-stakes final clash between South Africa and Kenya, scheduled for 5:18 PM. Additionally, Uganda will face Zimbabwe in a rematch of their previous encounter, vying for the remaining slot in the Challenger Series, which will also serve as the final qualification event.
Africa Men’s 7s Cup Quarters
QF1 | Kenya 7s 26-0 Burkina Faso | 1000
QF2 |Zimbabwe 26-10 Madagascar | 1022
QF3 |Zambia 15-29 Uganda | 1044
QF4 | South Africa 27-0 Nigeria | 1106
9th Place semis
Tunisia v Algeria| 1128
Namibia v Ivory Coast | 1150
5th Place Semis
Burkina Faso v Madagascar | 1306
Zambia v Nigeria | 1328
Cup Semis
Kenya 7s 35-10 Zimbabwe | 1350
Uganda 14-26 South Africa| 1412
11th Place Playoff
Algeria 26-19 Ivory Coast | 1434
9th Place Playoff
Winner 9th Place semi 1 v Winner 9th Place semi 2 | 1456
7th Place Playoff
Loser 5th Place semi 1 v Loser 5th Place semi 2 | 1550
5th Place Playoff
Winner 5th Place semi 1 v Winner 5th Place semi 2 | 1614
Bronze Medal Playoff
Uganda vs Zimbabwe | 1641
Gold Medal Match
Kenya 7s v South Africa | 1718
