It was a historic and electrifying opening day for rugby sevens at the African Games in Accra, Ghana as the condensed 7-a-side version of rugby union made its debut on the multi-sport program, delivering a thrilling brand of dynamic, high-octane action.
The host nation Ghana provided the day’s biggest fireworks, thrashing Benin 53-0 in a one-sided demolition.
The Eagles were simply unstoppable in front of their passionate home crowd, running in try after try against the overwhelmed Beninois, who had lost to Tunisia earlier.
Ghana’s blistering pace and slick handling proved far too much for their opponents to handle.
But upsets and tight tussles also marked rugby sevens’ inaugural appearance.
In the tournament opener, unheralded Burkina Faso pulled off a 10-5 shock win over pre-tournament fancies Kenya, setting the tone for an unpredictable competition.
Elsewhere, highly-rated Uganda and Tunisia secured convincing victories over Zimbabwe and Benin with 14-0 and 32-0, respectively in their opening matches. However, Zimbabwe bounced back from their earlier loss by edging Kenya 27-22 in a hard-fought encounter later in the day.
As the breathless first day concluded, it was evident that the rugby sevens’ arrival at the African Games had been an unqualified success.
The fast-paced, shortened format captivated new audiences with its relentlessly entertaining matches full of eye-catching scores and drama.
With the women’s tournament kicking off on Wednesday featuring the host Ghanaian side against Nigeria, fans are eagerly anticipating another riveting installment.
If the men’s exhilarating sevens showcase is any guide, rugby’s Olympic dreams will continue taking center stage in thrilling fashion in Accra.
