Sables open World Cup qualification bid against promoted Morocco

BY SPORTSCAST WRITER

HARARE - Champions Zimbabwe will play Morocco in the first of four quarter-finals of the Rugby Africa Cup in Uganda in July, a tournament that doubles as final qualifer for the 2027 World Cup.

Meeting the in-form Sables will be a baptism of fire for Morocco, who return to the top division of African rugby after a 26-12 Repechage win over Tunisia in Casablanca on Sunday secured promotion for the Atlas Lions. The North Africans replace Burkina Faso, who were relegated from the eight-team Africa Cup last year after finishing bottom of a tournament won by Zimbabwe in Kampala.

Interestingly, the Moroccans were demoted in 2018 following a final-day relegation battle with second-from-bottom Zimbabwe, who just managed to stay up after securing an away win over Uganda. Earlier in the tournament, Zimbabwe and Morocco had drawn 23-23 in Harare to open their account, in what was a thoroughly disappointing campaign for Zimbabwe under former Springboks coach Peter de Villiers.

This year in the second quarter-final in Kampala, hosts Uganda will take on neighbours Kenya in what promises to be hotly-contested contest between the two old rivals. The winner of that tie will meet the victor between Zimbabwe and Morocco in the semi-finals.

Last year's losing finalists Algeria will clash with Ivory Coast in the first of the second batch of quarter-finals. The winner of that then comes up against the winner between Namibia and Senegal from the other quarter-final.

This year's African champions will qualify directly for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.