KAMPALA, Uganda — The Namibian national rugby team, the Welwitschias, suffered a significant defeat on Wednesday, losing 10-32 to Zimbabwe in the Africa Rugby Cup at Mandela National Stadium. This match was part of the ongoing 2024 Rugby Africa Cup tournament, which includes the top eight rugby unions from across the continent.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Zimbabwe took early control, scoring two tries in the first half while Namibia struggled offensively, only managing to put three points on the board by halftime. The Zimbabwean team continued to dominate into the second half, adding three more tries and a penalty to their tally. The Welwitschias, despite being the second-highest ranked team in Africa and previous six-time cup winners, only managed their sole try towards the end of the game, setting the final score at 10-32.

The defeat relegates Namibia to the third-place play-off against Kenya, while Zimbabwe advances to the final to face Algeria. The tournament, hosted in Uganda at the refurbished Mandela National Stadium and Wankulukuku Stadium, also serves as the initial stage for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup qualifiers for the African region.

This year’s Rugby Africa Cup showcases talent from Zimbabwe, Algeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Kenya, Namibia, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and host Uganda. Namibia’s prior success in the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup, which secured their spot in the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, contrasts sharply with their current performance, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the sport.