Zambia Impresses on Day One of 2025 Rugby Africa Sevens in Mauritius

Zambia’s national men’s sevens rugby team got their 2025 Rugby Africa Sevens campaign off to a thrilling start with two wins out of three matches at Labourdonnais Sports Club in Mauritius, signaling their intent to compete fiercely for the continental title.

Zambia opened the day with a 21-12 win over Burkina Faso in a high-energy contest.

In their second outing, Zambia faced a stern test against a youthful but dominant South African side. The Blitzboks, fielding their Sevens ‘A’ development squad with eight uncapped players, overwhelmed Zambia early, racing to a 33-14 lead by halftime. Though Zambia fought valiantly, they were ultimately outclassed by the speed and experience of the South African outfit.

But Zambia bounced back in style during their final match of the day, with a commanding 14-7 win over Nigeria, showcasing strong defensive organization and clinical finishing. The team’s pace and discipline proved too much for the West Africans, who struggled to gain momentum despite their spirited play.

The team’s flair, support play, and aggressive tackles won over the crowd, as they closed out Day One with renewed confidence.

With two victories from three games, Zambia has positioned itself well heading into the knockout phase of the tournament. Their next fixture will be against Madagascar tomorrow at 07:44 hrs Zambian time, a crucial match that could determine their path to the semi-finals.

The 2025 edition of the Rugby Africa Sevens has drawn 12 teams, including regional giants South Africa, defending champions Uganda, and title hopefuls Zimbabwe and Kenya. Uganda has brought a largely new squad following the graduation of most of last year’s title-winning players to the Fifteens side, while Zimbabwe has integrated stars from their Rugby Africa Cup XVs squad to boost sharpness.

For Zambia, the campaign in Mauritius offers not just a shot at silverware, but a chance to stake their claim as one of Africa’s most promising rugby nations.