The 2024 Rugby Africa Repechage Pool B Tournament, the qualifier for the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup, will take place in Casablanca, Morocco on Wednesday, November 20 and Sunday, November 24 at Club Olympique Casablancais (COS).
Botswana are returning to continental rugby for the first time in six years, having last participated in Rugby Africa’s competitions in 2018.
Nicknamed the Vultures, Botswana are backing themselves to gain promotion to the continent’s premier division at the end of all Repechage round of matches in November and December.
“We’ve been preparing intensively for this competition,” Botswana coach Andrew Paxinos told local media before the team departed for Morocco.
“Our goal is to finish at the top of the group and earn promotion to the top division, where we will have the opportunity to compete in the World Cup qualifiers against other top-ranked African teams.”
In host Morocco, the Vultures face formidable opposition. The Atlas Lions are ranked number 45 in the world, with Botswana a distant 77th.
In the other semi-final of mouth-watering prospect, Madagascar clash with Cameroon later in the day.
Madagascar is eager to return to the top league of African rugby, where they always feel they belong given their nation’s rugby heritage. Rugby has a special place in the hearts of the people of this island nation – it is the most popular team sport there.
The Makis are however coming up against an unpredictable Cameroon side that will play with a lot of freedom and always looking to cause an upset.
The 2024 tournament will be accessible to the public with free admission. All 4 matches are available for free streaming on Rugby Pass TV, Rugby Africa’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Organized by Rugby Africa (www.rugbyafrique.com), the continental governing body of Rugby across Africa, in partnership with the Royal Moroccan Rugby Federation (FRMR), participating nations include host nation Morocco, Madagascar, Cameroon and Botswana.
Match Day 1: Wednesday 20 November 2024 (Local Morocco Time) (CET)
- Game 1: Morocco vs Botswana (13:00)
- Game 2: Madagascar vs Cameroon (15:30)
Match Day 2: Sunday 24 November 2024 (Local Morocco Time) (CET)
- Play- offs: TBD vs TBD(10:00)
- Final: TBD vs TBD(13:00)
