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2024 Pool A Repechage Tournament: The Carthage Eagles win ‘their’ tournament

The suspense only lasted for half-time at the Jemmal rugby stadium, and as expected it was the favourites Tunisia who won the final of the Pool A repechage tournament. This victory will allow the Carthage Eagles to cross swords with their Moroccan neighbours in Morocco in March to decide which team will win the right to move up to the next level of African rugby.

Zambian Copper Eagles coach Lawrence Njovu made just one change to the side that triumphed over Ghana in the semi-finals, with full-back Jason Thole replacing Alex Mwewa (11) on the left wing in place of Gaby Mungalaba.

For his part, Carthage Eagles coach Stephane Feriere made just two changes, but it was mainly in terms of player positioning that a new Khalifi (9) hinge was introduced at scrum-half in place of Alexander Vanin, and Najemeddine Khalifa (10) left his wing to take over at fly-half in place of Escal, who was replaced in the centre, while Najmeddine replaced Ifaoui (14) on the wing.

Tunisia started the match with their foot to the floor and in the 5th minute they were awarded a penalty in the Zambian 22, played in touch from 5 metres out. The ensuing scrum pushed Mohssen Essid (7) behind the try line, a try converted by Chamseddine Khalifa (15) 7-0.

In the 17th minute, David Kololo (10) missed the chance to open the scoring for the Zambians when he failed to convert a penalty 30 metres out in front of the posts.

On 22 minutes, the Copper Eagles were awarded a penalty 5 metres from the Tunisian line and they opted for a physical impact by calling for a scrum. A ruck ensued from which Thomas Mwankeja (4) emerged to score Zambia’s first points, Kololo’s conversion bringing the scores level at 7-7.

The multitude of errors of hand on the part of the Tunisians did not allow the home side to respond to the scoreline, despite their unchallenged domination. Tunisia finished the half inside the Zambian 22, but neither Malek Mahdi (12), Essid nor Ifaoui managed to cross the try line. It was not until the final minute of the first half that a Tunisian scrum inside the Zambian 22 resulted in a power try from prop Achref Ben Hammouda (1), converted by Chamseddine Khalifa to end the first half in Tunisia’s favour, 14-7.

At the start of the second half, the Tunisians forced their opponents into their own 22 and at the 45th minute, following a penalty touch, Enoch Mutambo collapsed the maul and was shown a yellow card (a ten-minute temporary ban). The Tunisians took advantage of the following touch to allow Mohseb Essid to score his second try of the match, taking advantage of the work of his forwards on the maul to score an unconverted try (19-7).

Tunisia continued to undermine the Zambians and nine minutes later a fine move on the right wing between Mohsen Essid and Wassim Ifaoui allowed full-back Chemseddine Khalifa to add to the score despite missing the conversion 24-7.

In the last 20 minutes, the Tunisian coach managed the match by making all his changes, but this was without counting on Zambia’s pride, which led to full-back Khalifa being yellow-carded in the last minute, and just as a final try was expected for the Copper Eagles, new Tunisian arrival Alexandre Banin cut the ball back to the halfway line and passed to the other replacement, Dhia Ben Dhia, who went on a solo run to seal the fate of the match 29-. 7 for the Carthage Eagles.

After the final whistle from Miss Precious Pazani, the Zimbabwean referee for the match, the many Tunisian fans present in Jammel ‘peacefully’ flooded the pitch to celebrate their team.

Written by Houssem Gharad