Nigeria’s men’s rugby national team, the Black Stallions, have embarked on their final preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics qualifying campaign in the United Kingdom.
The team aims to secure a spot in the upcoming qualifiers, which will take place in Mauritius this weekend.
Led by General Manager Azeez Ladipo, a delegation from the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) left Nigeria yesterday, accompanied by two domestic players, to join their overseas-based counterparts in England. This collaborative effort is crucial for the team’s readiness for the qualifiers.
In the qualifying round, Nigeria will face stiff competition from Ghana, Burundi, and DR Congo in Group A. The Black Stallions need to secure a top-three finish in order to advance to the next phase of the series, the Africa Cup Sevens, scheduled to be held in Zimbabwe.
The team’s preparation for the Olympics qualifiers began in early May, with Coach Temitope Okenla gathering players based in the United Kingdom. Recently appointed head coach Steve Lewis will lead the Nigerian team in Mauritius, aiming to guide them to success in the qualifiers.
To ensure focused training and optimal performance, most of the selected players will enter a closed camp before traveling to Mauritius for the first phase of the qualifiers. The Paris 2024 Olympics qualifying series is scheduled for June 24 and 25, featuring 12 countries vying for the available four slots in the Africa Cup Sevens tournament in Zimbabwe, set to take place in September.
The participating countries in the qualifiers include Mauritius, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Botswana, Cameroon, Algeria, and Nigeria. Also in the competition are Burundi, Congo, Lesotho, Senegal, and Egypt. Nigeria, represented by a mix of two home-based and ten overseas-based players, will undergo training in the United Kingdom ahead of the qualifiers.
The Black Stallions are determined to showcase their skills and determination on the field as they aim to secure a coveted spot in the Africa Cup Sevens and eventually qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The team’s coaching staff, led by Coach Steve Lewis, is expected to instill discipline, strategy, and teamwork to maximize their chances of success in the qualifiers. Nigerian rugby fans eagerly await the outcome of the team’s efforts as they compete against tough opponents in their quest for Olympic qualification.
