Kenya begin their campaign against Burkina Faso when the 2024 All Africa Games seven-a-side rugby competition kicks off at the University of Ghana on Tuesday. 

They renewed their rivalry with Zimbabwe before facing Benin on the second day. Kenya has three matches on the final day where they begin against Tunisia before facing hosts Ghana and meet Uganda in the last match. The women’s team, Kenya Lionesses are not in Accra, a decision which was communicated before the team flew out to Uruguay. 

The competition which will be played on a round robin format with the top three teams ascending the podium has seven men’s and five women’s teams. Besides Kenya, the other men’s teams are Uganda – who flew direct to Accra from Uruguay after playing at the second World Rugby Challenger Series in Montevideo -, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Ghana and Benin.

Uganda’s Lady Cranes, Madagascar, Tunisia, Ghana and Nigeria are the women’s teams in Accra. Officially, this is the first time that rugby has been included in the continental event that was launched in 1965.

By coincidence, Herbert Mensah, the Rugby Africa president who is from Ghana is elated about the shorter version of the game making its debut at the 13th edition of AAG. “Rugby will be a permanent fixture at the AAG,” he confirmed. 

All Africa Games 2024, University of Ghana

March 19-21

Teams

Men: Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Ghana, Benin.

Women: Uganda, Madagascar, Tunisia, Ghana, Nigeria.

Day one, March 19, 2024

Men: Kenya v Burkina Faso (11.00), Uganda v Zimbabwe (11.22), Tunisia v Benin (11.44), Kenya v Zimbabwe (14.00), Uganda v Tunisia (14.22), Ghana v Benin (14.44), 

Day two, March 20, 2024

Women: Ghana v Nigeria (9.00), Uganda v Tunisia (9.22), Uganda v Ghana (11.30), Madagascar v Nigeria (11.52), 

Men: Tunisia v Ghana (9.44), Kenya v Benin (10.06), Uganda v Burkina Faso (10.28), Uganda v Ghana (12.50), Zimbabwe v Tunisia (13.12), Burkina Faso v Benin (13.34).

Day three, March 21, 2024

Women: Tunisia v Nigeria (9.00), Madagascar v Ghana (9.22), Uganda v Nigeria (11.22), Madagascar v Tunisia (11.44), Tunisia v Ghana (14.06), Uganda v Madagascar (14.28), 

Men: Kenya v Tunisia (9.44), Uganda v Benin (10.06), Zimbabwe v Ghana (10.28), Burkina Faso v Tunisia 12.06), Kenya v Ghana (12.28), Zimbabwe v Benin (12.50), Burkina Faso v Ghana (15.12), Zimbabwe v Burkina Faso (15.34), Kenya v Uganda (15.56)