By Kuchineyi Lewis
Zimbabwe’s Sables have shattered a 34-year World Cup qualification drought and, in doing so, handed Namibia their first-ever defeat in a Rugby World Cup qualifier on African soil since 1999.
With a pulsating 30–28 triumph in the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup Final, the Sables not only booked a ticket to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia but rewrote the rugby annals of the continent.
This monumental victory makes Zimbabwe the first team to stop Namibia’s six-tournament qualification streak dating back to 1999. Until now, Namibia had represented Africa at every Rugby World Cup since then, becoming a continental mainstay on the global stage.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, had only ever qualified twice; in 1987 and 1991, before a three-decade-long exile. Now, both history and destiny have been rewritten in Kampala.
“This is for the over 15 million people back home and around the world. We stayed focused, treated each game like it was our last, and tonight we celebrate—but we don’t lose sight of the greater calling ahead,” said a visibly emotional captain Hilton Mudariki, who has led the Sables on an astonishing 13-match unbeaten run.
What unfolded inside the Nelson Mandela National Stadium was not just a final, it was a saga of sacrifice, willpower, and unflinching national pride.
Namibia opened the scoring with an early penalty to go 3–0 up, but Ian Prior, the seasoned maestro, quickly levelled it. The kicking duel intensified, with Namibia restoring their lead and Prior answering again: 6–6 after just 12 minutes.
Then came a surge from a precision line-out that was followed by seamless inside passes set up vice-captain Kudzai “The Enforcer” Mashawi for a crashing try.
Prior added the extras to make it 13–6. Although Namibia clawed back with a penalty (13–9), Zimbabwe pushed harder. A yellow card to Namibia handed Prior the opportunity to extend the lead to 16–9.
Namibia struck back with a try following a yellow card to Jason Fraser, levelling the scores 16–16 just before halftime. The stadium, thick with East African mist and deafening energy, braced for a second half for the ages.
The Sables opened the second stanza with ferocious intent with wave after wave of forward pressure eventually yielded a try and conversion: 23–16.
The Ugandan crowd erupted, and in the 58th minute, Brendan Mudzekenyedzi galloped through a gap to score Zimbabwe’s third try and with the conversion, the scoreboard read 30–16.
But Namibia wounded but not defeated, fired back, first reducing the deficit to 30–21, then crossing again in the 71st minute to narrow the margin to a nerve-rattling 30–28.
Debutant Bruce Houston and a tireless Tapiwa Mafura anchored Zimbabwe’s resistance as Namibia threw everything forward.
With just three minutes left, Namibia’s long-range penalty effort, their last gasp to snatch history sailed agonizingly wide.
The final whistle was greeted with an eruption of tears, song, and thunder. The Sables, once rugby’s sleeping giants, had awakened with seismic force.
Godfrey Muzanargwo was named Player of the Match, while Ian Prior earned the Player of the Tournament accolade, capping a sensational campaign for Zimbabwe.
Final Score: Zimbabwe 30 – Namibia 28
Zimbabwe World Cup Qualification History
1987 – Qualified (Inaugural Tournament)
1991 – Qualified
2027 – Qualified (First since 1991)
Namibia World Cup Qualification History
1999 – Qualified
2003 – Qualified
2007 – Qualified
2011 – Qualified
2015 – Qualified
2019 – Qualified
2023 – Qualified
2027 – Not Qualified
