Morocco Claims North African Bragging Rights Over Tunisia to Secure 2025 Rugby Africa Cup Spot
CASABLANCA, Morocco -The promotion and relegation concept in sport is often colourful and poetic.
Morocco, back at the top table of African rugby after a 26-12 Repechage final victory over Tunisia on Sunday, February 9, will bear witness to that.
In 2018, the Moroccans were agonisingly relegated from the top-flight section of African rugby, to be replaced by Burkina Faso – who were duly promoted to the first-tier.
Now, after their Repechage win over fellow North Africans Tunisia on Sunday, Morocco are back among Rugby Africa’s best eight sides.
And who do they replace? Burkina Faso, the same team that took their spot in 2018. After finishing bottom of the eight-team Rugby Africa Cup event in Kampala, Uganda, Burkina Faso was relegated.
Now Morocco has reclaimed their slot from the upcoming and very promising West Africans.
At the Stade Père Jégo on Sunday, the Atlas Lions romped to a relatively comfortable win over rivals Tunisia.
It means Morocco now joins seven other top African nations at the premier continental championship in Ugandan capital Kampala in July. The 2025 African champions will directly qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Australia, with the runners-up proceeding to a more challenging global Repechage event, but still in with a chance to travel ‘Down Under’.
On Sunday, Morocco’s forwards display was the benchmark of their play against Tunisia, clearly targeting it as the crucial area of their game in pursuit of that ticket to Kampala this year.
The Moroccans exerted huge pressure on Tunisia’s lineouts and scrums, putting the Carthage Eagles on the backfoot for most of the match and forcing errors.
This forward dominance freed the outside backs of the hosts, to have a go at will. Particularly deadly were the wings Qadiri Mohammed Karim and Hou Younes as well as the slippery outside-centre El Khaoulani Billal. Scrumhalf El KHattabi Illan was sure-footed with the kicking tee.
A late surge from Tunisia wasn’t enough to prevent Morocco return to the top division of African rugby for the first time in six years.
To Watch the Rugby Africa Repechage Final: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15jDcvdNMf/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Written by Enock Muchinjo
