Nigeria To Face South Africa, Zambia and Hosts Mauritius in Africa Championship

Nigeria To Face South Africa, Zambia and Hosts Mauritius in Africa Championship

By Niyi Busari 

Nigeria's Rugby Sevens team, the Stallions, have been drawn in a challenging Pool A alongside continental powerhouse South Africa, hosts Mauritius and Zambia for the 2026 Rugby Africa Sevens Championship, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The tournament, scheduled to take place in Cascavelle, Mauritius, on June 20 and 21, will see Nigeria face one of the toughest tests in African rugby when they take on South Africa's renowned Blitzboks in a headline group-stage encounter.

The Stallions will be aiming to make a strong statement against one of the most successful teams in world rugby sevens as they seek a place in the knockout stages. The clash presents an opportunity for Nigeria to assess its progress against a side widely regarded as one of the sport's global benchmarks.

Pool A also features hosts Mauritius and Zambia, making for a highly competitive group as teams battle for qualification to the next round.

In Pool B, Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal and Madagascar will compete for supremacy. Senegal was drafted into the tournament following the withdrawal of Uganda amid concerns surrounding an Ebola outbreak. Reports indicated that some members of the Ugandan delegation had tested positive for the virus, although no players were reported to have been affected.

Pool C comprises Zimbabwe, Kenya, Morocco and Madagascar, setting up another fiercely contested group featuring some of Africa's most experienced rugby sevens nations.

Nigeria heads into the championship looking to improve on its seventh-place finish at the previous edition. The Stallions reached the quarter-finals before suffering defeat to Kenya and concluded the tournament with two victories from six matches.

With preparations complete and a high-profile opening challenge against South Africa awaiting, Nigeria will be hoping to demonstrate its continued development and strengthen its standing among Africa's emerging rugby powers.