By Aderonke Ojo
….Nigeria to battle Morocco, Zimbabwe, Senegal, four others in Uganda
Nigeria’s Stallions face a major African rugby sevens test as they take on seven other nations in the race for the continent’s lone ticket to the World Rugby SVNS 3 ,2027 competition.
The Stallions will be in action at the World Rugby SVNS 3 Qualifiers in Uganda from September 26 to 27, with Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Tunisia, Morocco and Senegal standing between Nigeria and qualification for the global circuit.
Rugby Africa confirmed the eight-team tournament after a major shake-up to its original competition calendar.
The event was initially scheduled as a 12-team Africa Men’s Sevens tournament in Mauritius but was postponed following the Ebola outbreak. Uganda will now host the eight-team SVNS 3 qualifying tournament, while the Africa Men’s Sevens competition remains scheduled for Mauritius in October.
The Mauritius tournament will feature South Africa, Kenya, hosts Mauritius and Burkina Faso, with four more teams still to be confirmed.
For Nigeria, however, all eyes will be firmly fixed on Uganda, where the Stallions have a golden opportunity to make a statement on the continental stage.
The tournament will also serve as the opening event of the 2026 Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens Series, with the eventual winner securing qualification for the World Rugby SVNS 3 2027 competition.
Beyond the coveted ticket, the stakes are also high for Nigeria’s continental ranking. The winner will move up to third in Africa, while the eighth-placed team will occupy the final position among the competing nations.
The Stallions will therefore have more than qualification to play for. A strong showing in Uganda would underline the growth of Nigeria’s sevens programme, boost its African ranking and strengthen the team’s push for greater recognition on the international stage.
With one ticket, eight teams and everything to play for, Nigeria will be looking to roar loudest in Uganda and book its place among the world’s emerging sevens nations.
