- The men’s national rugby 15s side, Kenya Simbas, will face the Zimbabwe Sables on Sunday, July 13, in the Rugby Africa Cup 2025 semifinal.
- The match is set to kick off at 4:00 PM EAT at the Mandela National Stadium.
- Despite Kenya being a formidable side, the Sables are ready to stop them and etch their names in the history books.
Defending champions Zimbabwe are determined to halt the charge of the Kenya Simbas in the Rugby Africa Cup 2025 semifinal, set for Sunday, July 13, at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala.
With a coveted ticket to the 2027 Rugby World Cup on the line, the Sables made an emphatic statement in their quarterfinal opener, dismantling Morocco 43-8 on July 8.
That dominant performance set up a mouthwatering clash against Kenya, who edged past regional rivals and hosts Uganda 32-24.
The two will clash at 4:00 PM EAT as Ricky Chirengende’s squad, one of the few African teams to have graced the World Cup twice, aims to reclaim their place on the global stage after a three-decade absence since their last qualification in 1991.
Meanwhile, Kenya narrowly missed out on last season’s title, finishing fourth, with their closest brush with glory coming in 2022 when they fell to record champions Namibia in the finals.
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Speaking ahead of this high-stakes encounter, Zimbabwe skipper Hilton Mudariki acknowledged Kenya’s strength but emphasized his team’s readiness.
Kenya is a quality team, and having faced them over the past few years, we know they have amazing athletes all over the field. But for us, we have been working hard on executing our game plan, and if we tick the boxes we have been focusing on, we believe we can stand out in this game,” Mudariki affirmed.
He also highlighted the internal competition within the squad as a driving force behind their performance.
We have top quality in the team. The guys are fighting for places and creating a big headache for the coaches when it comes to picking the final squad which is exactly what we want going into the match against Kenya. We want the boys pushing each other, fighting for the jersey, and representing the country,” he reiterated.
Zimbambwe Sables aim to make history
Center Kudakwashe Mushawi echoed the captain’s sentiments, acknowledging Kenya as a “formidable and athletic” opponent while praising the impact of Zimbabwe’s bench.
We know what we are up against- big, strong, athletic players. But if you look at both sides, we have powerful bodies too. The collisions will be hard and tough, but we are ready for it,” he told Hippos Fan Rugby.
As you saw against Morocco, we were stuck in their territory for most of the game, but when our bench came on youthful and full of energy they changed everything. I’m confident they’ll do a great job again in this match.”
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For Mushawi, the team’s primary motivation is legacy.
We want to make history and etch our names in the history books. We have young players who are really driven to achieve that and take the nation to the next stage. That’s our motivation. It also helps us stay humble, remain grounded, tick our boxes, and focus on doing what we are supposed to do being where we need to be.”
Zimbabwe squad vs Kenya Simbas – Rugby Africa Cup Semifinal
Starting XV
Victor Mpunga, Simba Mandioma, Cleophas Kundiona, Kudakwashe Nyakufaringwa, Simba Siraha, Tinotenda Mavesre, Godfrey Muzanargwo, Jason Fraser, Hilton Mudariki (captain), Ian Prior, Edward Sigauke, Kudzai Mushawi, Brandon Mudzekenyedzi, Matthew McNab, Tapiwa Mafura
Replacements
Liam Larkan, Tyran Fagan, Bornwell Gwinji, Arden Burnet, Dylan Itete, Keegan Joubert, Dion Khumalo, Bruce Houston
Rugby Africa Cup 2025 Quarterfinal Results (July 8)
- QF 1: Zimbabwe 43–8 Morocco
- QF 2: Algeria 41–6 Cote d’Ivoire
- QF 3: Namibia 55–17 Senegal
- QF 4: Kenya 32–24 Uganda
Upcoming Semifinals – July 13:
- SF 1: Namibia vs Algeria (2:00 PM EAT)
- SF 2: Zimbabwe vs Kenya (4:00 PM EAT)
Final – July 19:
- Winner SF 1 vs Winner SF 2