Namibia’s Welwitschias will be aiming to secure a historic eighth Rugby World Cup appearance when they take on Zimbabwe’s Sables in the final of the Rugby Africa Cup tomorrow at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.

The highly anticipated clash will commence at 15h00 and will determine which team qualifies directly for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Namibia booked their spot in the final after defeating Algeria 21-7 in the semi-finals, while Zimbabwe advanced with a narrow 29-23 win over Kenya.

The winner of tomorrow’s final will qualify automatically for the World Cup, while the losing side will remain in Kampala to face the United Arab Emirates in a decisive playoff. The UAE finished as runners-up in the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship.

Reflecting on their semi-final victory, Namibia vice captain Danco Burger expressed gratitude to supporters and sponsors, urging them to continue backing the team in the crucial showdown.

“I would like to thank our local supporters and sponsors for rallying behind the boys. We knew what we wanted ahead of the Algeria match and had detailed discussions about their style of play,” Burger said.

Although pleased with the team’s performance, Burger emphasised the need for fine-tuning before the final.

“We executed well in the semi-finals, and I believe we’ll carry that momentum into the final. Zimbabwe is a quality side, and we’ll need to correct a few things before taking them on,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Prince Goaseb, said preparations had gone well and they are ready to face off against Zimbabwe. “We had a good week of preparation; we are looking forward to Saturday. The team is physically and mentally ready,” he added. 

The 2025 Rugby Africa Cup brought together eight of the continent’s top teams – Namibia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Morocco, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal – in a knockout format, with the winner earning Africa’s sole automatic qualification spot for the World Cup. The champion will also secure a place in the second division of the Nations Cup.

This qualification cycle is notable for being the first time in Rugby World Cup history that all participating teams will be confirmed by the end of 2025. The final World Rugby Rankings will determine seeding for the tournament draw. Fans interested in attending the 2027 Rugby World Cup can register for ticket updates online. Namibia has qualified for seven World Cups to date. A win tomorrow will extend their impressive tally to eight.

-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na