By Tapiwa Chawagarira
KAMPALA, Uganda — Zimbabwe’s Cheetahs opened their 2026 Africa Men’s Sevens campaign on a winning note after edging Morocco 19-12 in a tightly contested Pool A encounter at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds in Kampala.
The victory provided an important early boost for the Cheetahs, who are competing in a tournament that doubles as the African qualifier for the 2027 World Rugby SVNS 3.
Zimbabwe were forced to dig deep against a determined Moroccan side but held their nerve in a physical contest to secure the points and put themselves in a strong position in Pool A.
The Cheetahs are competing in Kampala under new head coach Fortunate Chipendu, who took over from Ricky Chirengende as Zimbabwe reshaped its Sevens programme.
Chipendu has been working with a new-look squad that combines experienced campaigners with emerging talent, with captain Tapiwa Malenga providing leadership on the field.
Malenga had earlier acknowledged the challenge of rebuilding the side following the departure of several players who have moved on to concentrate on the Sables ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Zimbabwe entered the tournament having finished third in last year’s Africa Sevens Series, with qualification for the next stage of the global Sevens pathway among the team’s major targets.
The 2026 tournament features eight nations, with Zimbabwe, Morocco, Ghana and Nigeria forming Pool A, while hosts Uganda, Zambia, Tunisia and Senegal make up Pool B.
The Cheetahs’ opening victory came on a busy first day, with Zimbabwe scheduled to face Ghana later in the day before completing their pool commitments against Nigeria on Sunday.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the Cup semi-finals, with the knockout matches scheduled for Sunday.
For Zimbabwe, the immediate focus will now shift to maintaining their momentum and securing a strong position in the pool ahead of the knockout stages.
The tournament carries added significance because the eventual African winner will secure qualification for the 2027 World Rugby SVNS 3, giving the continent a place on the global Sevens circuit.
Zimbabwe spent more than eight weeks in camp preparing for the tournament, with the technical team using the extended period to work on fitness, combinations and Chipendu’s playing philosophy.
Assistant coach Tinashe Shamu said the lengthy preparation period had been important in helping the largely new-look squad adapt to the new coaching team’s methods.
The Cheetahs will now look to build on their victory over Morocco as they chase a place in the latter stages of the competition and, ultimately, the qualification prize on offer in Kampala.
