While Kenya ended Algeria’s World Cup qualification hopes, Namibia remain in contention for a seventh appearance at the World Cup thanks to their victory over Zimbabwe.
The XV of France was able to reduce the list of its potential opponents to two. Indeed, the semi-finals of the Rugby Africa Cup, qualifying for the next World Cup, gave their verdict this Wednesday in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, which host the competition. The first semi-final saw Algeria lose all hope of playing their first World Cup against Kenya. At the end of a spectacular meeting, which saw each of the two teams register the trifle of five tries. After an intense end to the match which saw both teams give their all, the Kenyans win with a margin of three small points (33-36) and make sure they have two opportunities to validate their ticket for the next World Cup. The first of two chances is scheduled for this Sunday at the Stade Maurice-David in Aix-en-Provence against Namibia.
Namibia at your fingertips
After seeing their run of six consecutive World Cups come to an end in 2019, the Welwitschias took the measure of Zimbabwe in the second semi-final. Logically favorites, the Namibians won with a margin of fifteen points (34-19) and will play in the final of the Rugby Africa Cup for the eleventh time, they who have won the last five editions. The team that wins this final will qualify directly for the next World Cup in Pool A with New Zealand, France, Italy and Uruguay, the match against the Blues being scheduled for September 21, 2023 in Marseille. The team that loses this Sunday will have one last chance to return to France to compete in the World Cup.. She will join Portugal, Chile or the United States as well as Tonga, South Korea or Hong Kong for the final qualifying tournament scheduled for next November, with a place in Pool C, with Wales, l Australia, Fiji and Georgia at stake.
RUGBY AFRICA CUP 2022 / FINAL STAGE
From July 1 to 10 in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence
Final – Sunday July 10, 2022
9 p.m.: Namibia – Kenya
Semi-finals – Wednesday July 6, 2022
Algeria – Kenya : 33-36
Namibia – Zimbabwe: 34-19
Quarter-finals – Friday July 1 and Saturday July 2, 2022
Namibia –Burkina Faso: 71-5
Zimbabwe – Ivory Coast: 38-11
Uganda – Kenya : 7-42
Senegal – Algeria : 12-35
