Rugby Africa Pre-Olympic Qualifiers: Ghana’s Eagles Secure Qualification

The Ghana Rugby Female team, Eagles have secured qualification for the qualifying round of the 2024 Olympic after placing second in the just ended Rugby Africa Pre-Olympic Qualifiers in Zambia.

Team Ghana traveled with 14 contingent, comprising 11 players namely Anita Halm, Nimatu Hartman, Barikisu A. Mumuni, Racheal Dede N. Tawiah, Radha Arthur, Dorothy Owusu Ansah, Victoria Atta, Crystal Monique Cooke, Sandra Siawaa Odame, Jamila Awal and three (3) technical officials led by Head Coach Lovemore Kuzorera, his Assistant Jeffery Chiwanda and Rafatu lnusah as the team manager and leader of delegation.

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The Competition was made up of 10 teams divided into two groups of five.

Ghana were placed in Group B alongside Burkina Faso, Cote D’lvoire, Zimbabwe and DR Congo.

The other group had host Zambia, Senegal, Egypt, Mauritius and Algeria in Group A.

The Eagles of Ghana managed to secure top spot in Group A after beating Zimbabwe 19-15, Burkina Faso 24:00 and Cote D’lvoire 24:12 to set up a Final clash with Zambia who also secured top spot in Group B.

Ghana suffered a big blow before the final match against Zambia, when the No. 4 of the Ghana team was sited with HIA by the tournament doctor after she was swinged by the opponent and fell on the head which ended her chance to play in the finals as it’s important to check the safety of the players. Team Ghana ended up with 10 players out of 12 to compete in the finals.

The Eagles Captain Paulina Yaa Mensah and others were injured in the previous matches and had no backups in the final games which led to the defeat to Zambia.

Zambia, Ghana and Zimbabwe have now qualified for the final tournament that will take place in Tunisia next October.