By Victor Kanayo
The road to the 2024 Olympics Games scheduled for Paris, France, for various countries is getting clearer with qualifier series going on.
For Rugby, a number of African nations are still fixed in battle for available slots.
Another Qualifier Round, Nigeria’s Biggest Stage Quest
Between September 16 and 17, 2023, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia and Namibia will be slogging it out in Zimbabwe in phase two of the Olympics qualifier, according to the fixtures already released by Rugby Afrique.
The Nigerian Rugby team, also known as the Black Stallions will be facing a herculean task when they take on one of the strongest powerhouses in African Rugby, Kenya’s Shujas, on September 16 in their bid to seek qualification for first ever Olympics place.
Nigeria’s second game will be against Zambia, before a final tie against the Welwitschias of Namibia.
Pre-Olympic Hostilities
Nigeria finished second at the pre-Olympic qualifier in Mauritius earlier in the year, where they lost to Algeria in the final.
That was after the Black Stallions defeated Ghana 24-7 in the opening match before beating Burundi 43-14 and in the last pool match blew apart Congo 43-0.
The Coach Steve Lewis-led Nigerian lads thrashed Botswana 33-5 to qualify for semi final where they met a highly determined Cote D’Ivoire side who also fell to their firepower 20-12.
Nigeria is hoping to make it to the Olympics after shocking the world in 2014 by qualifying for the Commonwealth games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Kenya, Zambia And Namibia Olympic History
The Kenya rugby Sevens team, fondly called Shujaa, a Swahili word meaning courage, confidence, bravery, or heroism; will be aiming for their third consecutive appearance at the Olympics, while Namibia that finished fifth at the last qualifiers will hope to do better this time around just as Zambia, a sleeping giant in African Rugby, will hope to rise from their slumber in a bid to upturn the apple.
