By Kuchineyi Lewis
The Zambezi Cheetahs, Zimbabwe’s senior men’s national sevens rugby team, earned crucial continental ranking points after finishing third at the 2025 Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens Cup in Port Louis, Mauritius—clinching the bronze medal with a dramatic 21–19 win over long-time rivals Kenya.
While the result wasn’t enough to secure the coveted spot in the Challenger Circuit, the hard-fought third-place finish solidifies Zimbabwe’s status as a rising power in African sevens rugby.
The Cheetahs saved their most breathtaking moment for the bronze medal match. Trailing Kenya in the dying moments, Zimbabwe struck with a last-minute try to level the scores before calmly converting under pressure to snatch victory at the death, sending the Zimbabwean bench into wild celebrations.
The comeback capped a tournament filled with grit, precision, and attacking flair. Zimbabwe had kicked off the campaign with a flawless run in the pool stages, dispatching Tunisia 31–17 in their opener, before crushing tournament hosts Mauritius 42–7 in a clinical performance. They rounded off the group stage with a 21–7 win over Madagascar to top their pool.
Momentum carried into the knockout phase, where the Cheetahs dismantled Ghana 36–0 in the quarterfinals, demonstrating not only a sharp offensive edge but also an impenetrable defensive line.
However, the road to gold was blocked by a disciplined South African side in the semifinals. Despite a valiant effort, Zimbabwe fell 19–12 in a pulsating encounter that tested both skill and stamina.
Though the Challenger Circuit remains out of reach for now, the bronze medal performance reinforces the Zambezi Cheetahs’ upward trajectory. Their campaign in Mauritius showcased not only individual brilliance but also collective maturity, with standout contributions across the squad.
As the team departs with silverware and ranking points in hand, Zimbabwean rugby fans have every reason to believe that a return to consistent international competition is within reach.
