The Namibia Welwitschias were on fire when they faced Senegal in the third game of the day at the Rugby Africa Cup, held at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
In the tournament that doubles as a direct qualifier to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, the Namibians knew exactly what was at stake, as they seek a return to the highest level of world rugby.
An early try that was converted by Tiaan Swanpoel, followed by a penalty by the same flyhalf, set the pace for the high-scoring game that saw the Senegalese fight back with points of their own. Both packs of forwards were balanced, both in the set pieces and open play, a factor that contributed to the final 55-17 score remaining at a respectable margin.
By the start of the second half, Namibia’s 10-point lead was reduced to just 5 points after Senegalese winger Lerouiel Leopold caught a drifting Namibian defence wrong-footed and he scored an unconverted try to bring the score to 17-12.
The Senegal comeback was stopped in its tracks when Namibia’s outside center Andre Van Der Berg scored a theatrical try, beating multiple defenders and backpeddling to dot down under the poles.
The Senegalese still had a fight in them when they got a line out in the Namibian red zone, lost it, but somehow regained possession and scored an unconverted try through Diame Semou. These were the last points scored by the West Africans, while the Namibians added 31 points to their 24 points at that stage of the game, for the final score of 55-17 to Namibia.
Namibia now heads to the semifinals to meet an equally strong Algerian side that wants to make the final of the Rugby Africa Cup for the second year running.