The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
BURKINA FASO have earned the third and final slot in the Rugby Africa Cup 2021 competition after emerging winners of the Rugby Africa Cup Repechage tournament.
They will now join Zimbabwe and Tunisia in Pool D of the Rugby Africa Cup, which is the next phase of qualifiers of for the 2023 France Rugby World Cup.
The three nations are expected to battle it out for two slots for next year’s final qualification phase when they engage in the round-robin tournament slated for July 9 to July 17.
Burkina Faso secured their passage following a Repechage tournament which kicked off on June 5.
It was hosted by the Burkinabè Rugby Federation (FBR), with three competing teams, including Burundi and Cameroon.
It ended with the hosts defeating Cameroon 17-13 on Sunday.
“I think the victory is well-deserved and I wish the Burkina Faso team good luck for the future,” said tournament director Mostafa Jelti.
Cameroon captain Justin Amougou conceded defeat.
“Playing abroad is not easy.
“We gave it our all and it didn’t work out.
“It’s sport. We learned from our mistakes, ” said Amougou.
Zimbabwe’s Sables had been following the Repecharge tournament in Burkina Faso with keen interest to know the identity of their other Pool D opponents.
They will open their campaign with a clash against Burkina Faso on July 13 before meeting Tunisia four days later.
All the matches are taking place at the Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet in Monastir.
