By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and nine other African countries will this weekend engage each other in a bid to further edge closer for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Already, organisers have grouped 12 nations into three pools ahead of Africa Cup 7s Rugby tournament in Zimbabwe, which serves qualifier for Paris Games.
Three Pools
In Pool A, South Africa, Madagascar, Tunisia, Cote D’Ivoire will trade tackles, while Kenya, Namibia, Zambia and Nigeria tango in Pool B.
In Pool C, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and Algeria Square up to determine which side proceed thereafter.
All the teams Heritage Times HT gathered have entered close camping.
Nigerian Squad
Talking about their preparation, Nigeria Rugby Coach, Steve Lewis, on Thursday night named a 12-man team.
Coach Lewis made three changes to the team that had excellent run in the pre-Olympic qualifiers in Mauritius earlier in 2023.
He drafted in forward star player – Richard Adeniyi-Jones and two playmakers – Aristide Goualin and Ogheneloyeme Macaulay.
Goualin is making a return to the Stallions 7s having debuted in 2011 Africa Cup in Morocco.
Co-captain Declan Nwachukwu, captain Olukolade Awobowale, Gabriel John Etim, Matthew Ilube, Oluwadara Odunlami, Richard Adeniyi Jones, Frederick Henry Ajudua, Onoru Oyiza Jatto, Pierre Gualin, Aristide Goualin, Ogheneloyeme Macaulay, David Aniebolam all join to make the final squad.
The team are presently camped at the Zesa training centre in Harare, the same place the competition is scheduled to happen September 16 and 17, 2023.
