Nigeria’s national men’s rugby team, the Black Stallions have departed the shores of the country for Mauritius, the host of the Africa Cup Rugby Sevens tournament.
The President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Dr. Ademola Are, Secretary Oludare Davies travelled with four home-based players.
The players—Christopher Daniel John, Etim Gabriel, Sam Esukuloh Prince, and Akpabio Samuel will join the foreign-based players who have been training in England for the past few weeks.
It will be recalled that before the tournament kickoff, the NRFF took a significant step in repositioning rugby in the country by signing a three-year partnership deal with Flovale Consulting.
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The partnership will enable Flovale Consulting to create a dedicated channel and focus efforts on making rugby one of the most popular sports in Nigeria, while promoting body and mind development.
Led by head coach Steve Lewis, the team has been undergoing rigorous preparation. Lewis emphasized the importance of these sessions, stating, “Our goal is to be fully prepared and address any weaknesses before our Nigeria-based players arrive. We want to be at our best for the tournament.”
The squad for the Africa Cup Sevens has seen several significant changes, notably the absence of co-captains Declan Nwachukwu (center) and Olukolade Awobowale (winger) due to injuries. Former captain Onoru Jatto is also absent, prompting strategic adjustments by the coaching staff.
The Black Stallions are in Pool A, competing against strong opponents like Kenya, Madagascar, and host Mauritius.
Pool B features Uganda, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, and Côte d’Ivoire, while Pool C includes Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, and Algeria.
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