AFRICA CUP; NORTH 2 UPDATE

Played in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso

30.05.2015
Burkina Faso 12, Ghana 0
Niger 50, Togo 15
Mali 65, Benin 5

27.05.2015
Mali 24, Ghana 7
Niger 82, Benin 5
Burkina Faso 20, Togo 7

23.05.2015
Burkina Faso 65, Benin 3
Mali 31, Togo 12
Niger 28, Ghana 10

CAR DIVISION 2 NORTH FINALS DAY 10 JUNE

10.06.2013
Niger 17, Mali 14 in Niamey (CAR Division 2, North)
Burkino Faso 28, Ghana 6 in Niamey (CAR Division 2, North)
Togo 63, Benin 0 in Niamey (CAR Division 2, North)

Niger wins Division 2, North

Niger may also be participating in CAR Africa Cup Division 1C in Ivory Coast if the article below is to be believed

’Au regard de ces exploits, il ressort que notre pays détient le palmarès le plus riche de la sous région. Ce palmarès dit-il, a permis au Niger de décrocher cette année une place au plus haut niveau du Rugby africain notamment, la première division. Il a indiqué que du 21 au 28 juin, les Zébus disputeront la Coupe d'Afrique de la première division de la dite discipline à Yamoussoukro en Côte d'Ivoire.’

http://www.lesahel.org/index.php/component/k2/item/3259-coupe-dafrique-de-2%C3%A8me-division-de-rugby--le-niger-bat-le-b%C3%A9nin-48-0-en-match-douverture

CAR Division 2, North Day 1

03.06.2013
Niger 48, Benin 0 in Niamey (CAR Division 2, North)
Ghana 13, Togo 11 in Niamey (CAR Division 2, North)
Mali 23, Burkino Faso 13 in Niamey (CAR Division 2, North)

Briefly
Word out is that Benin has been unable to send it strongest side as 5 out of the 8 clubs refused to release players.

RUGBY IN AFRICA: CAR Division 2, North Finals Day

Mali v Niger in Bamako (CAR Africa Cup Division 2, North, Final)

 

Results to the Final
Mali
v Chad W 32-3
v Ghana W 28-3

Niger
v Mali ‘A’ W 28-3
v Burkino Faso W 12-5

Last Five Encounters
21.07.2010 Niger 6-3 in Niamey (CAR Africa Trophy, Semi-Final)
12.07.2009 Drawn 11-11 in Tsevie (CAR Dev.Trophy, North, Pool A)
25.06.2008 Drawn 3-3 in Accra (CAR Dev. Trophy, North, Pool B)
20.06.2007 Mali 10-6 in Ougadougou (CAR Castel Beer Trophy, North, Pool A)
28.03.2006 Niger 15-0 in Niamey (CAR Castel Beer Trophy, Pool A)

These are all the test matches these two teams have played against each other.

GWC Rugby Rankings
Africa Table-Niger 16th, Mali 17th

Prediction: Niger by 7 points

Teams Not Available

Ghana v Burkino Faso in Bamako (CAR Africa Cup Division 2, North, Playoff 3^rd-4th)

 

Results to The 3rd-4th Playoff
Ghana
v Benin W 16-7
v Mali L 3-28

Burkino Faso
v Togo W 11-6
v Niger L 5-12

Previous Encounters
15.07.2009 Ghana 17-7 in Tsevie (CAR Dev. Trophy, North, Pool B)
27.06.2008 Burkino Faso 9-8 in Accra (CAR Dev. Trophy, North, Pool B)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Africa Table-Ghana 18th, Burkino Faso 19th

Prediction: Ghana by 7 points

Teams Not Available

Mali ‘A’ v Benin in Bamako (CAR Africa Cup Division 2, North, Playoff 5^th-6^th)
 
Results to the 5th-6th Playoff

Mali ‘A’
v Niger L 3-28
v Togo W 14-11

Benin
v Ghana L 7-16
v Chad W 16-11

No Previous Encounters and no GWC Rugby Rankings

Prediction: Mali "’A’ by 7 points

Chad v Togo in Bamako (CAR Africa Cup Division 2, North, Playoff 7^th-8^th)

 

Results to 7th-8th Playoff

Chad
v Mali L 3-32
v Benin L 11-16

Togo
v Burkino Faso L 6-11
v Mali ‘A’ L 11-14

These two teams have never met before. Prior to this tournament, Chad last played test rugby in 2008

GWC Rugby Rankings
Africa Table-Togo 20th, Chad 30th

Prediction: Togo by 7 points

TEST RUGBY: CAR Africa Division 2, North

This tournament is being held in Bamako, Mali

Results From Last Week

Round 1-Mali ‘A’ took the place of Gabon who didn’t show up.
23.07
Niger 28, Mali ‘A’ 3
Mali 32, Chad 3

24.07
Ghana 16, Benin 7
Burkino Faso 11, Togo 6

Round 2
26.07
Mali ‘A’ 14, Togo 11
Benin 16, Chad 11

27.07
Niger 12, Burkino Faso 5
Mali 28, Ghana 3

AFRICAN RUGBY: Africa Trophy North Finals Day

Held in Niamey, Niger

24.07.2010
Senegal A 13, Niger 6 (Final)
Mali 17, Ghana 8 (Playoff 3rd-4th)
Burkino Faso 17, Togo 0 (Playoff 5th-6th)
Congo 53, Benin 17 (Playoff 7th-8th)

Reviews
http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid=2039513.html#senegal+a+wins+africa+rugby+north+zone+trophy

AFRICAN RUGBY: Africa Trophy North

Round 2, held in Niamey, Niger

20.07.2010
Burkino Faso 21, Congo 0
Togo 12, Benin 5

21.07.2010
Niger 6, Mali 3
Senegal A 38, Ghana 0

Finals Day, Saturday 24 July

Final-Senegal A v Niger
Playoff 3rd-4th: Mali v Ghana
Playoff 5th-6th: Burkino Faso v Benin
Playoff 7th-8th: Congo v Benin

Preview
This has been a fascinating tournament, played in one of the poorest nations on earth, and in the middle of a devastating drought as well. How they manage to hold a rugby tournament in all that shows just what this game is all about. In the most adverse conditions the game goes on.

Senegal A would appear to be too strong for the opposition and I will predict them as the eventual winners. Mali has been the dark horse and the host nation Niger has made the final which is good for the game locally.

Hopefully African rugby is heading towards a divisional and regional tournament format similar to that provided by Asia. Transport costs would be the most inhibiting factor but there is no denying the enthusiasm and determination of the small African unions and clubs putting their all in for the game of rugby. Africa I salute you!

Previous Encounters
Non of the teams playing on the final day have ever played each other before.

Predictions
Final-Senegal A by 20 v Niger
Playoff 3rd-4th-Ghana by 28 v Mali
Playoff 5th-6th-Burkino Faso by 7 v Togo
Playoff 7th-8th-Benin by 14 v Congo

Team lists not available

Here are some links to some match reports (Via FIRA-AER Forum)
http://www.senegal-rugby.com/Le-XV-national-local-Senegal-A-au-tournoi-CAR-Trophy-2010-de-Niamey_a163.html
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121726001205849&index=1
http://www.senegal-rugby.com/Le-Senegal-demarre-en-trombe-le-tournoi-CAR-Trophy-2010-de-Niamey-_a164.html
http://www.republicoftogo.com/Toutes-les-rubriques/Sport/Rugby-le-Togo-prend-sa-revanche
http://www.afriqueavenir.org/2010/07/20/le-niger-se-trace-un-chemin-dans-le-rugby-continental-et-accueille-le-tournoi-international-de-la-car/
http://www.senegal-rugby.com/Le-Senegal-demarre-en-trombe-le-tournoi-CAR-Trophy-2010-de-Niamey-_a164.html

AFRICAN RUGBY: Africa Trophy, North

Results in

17.07.2010
Senegal A 65, Togo 0
Niger 23, Congo 6

18.97.2010
Mali 20, Burkino Faso 3
Ghana 31, Benin 0

Coming Up
20.07.2010-Classifying
Congo v Burkino Faso
Benin v Togo

21.07.2010-Semi Finals
Ghana v Senegal A
Niger v Mali

Thanks to the guys at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3116&start=300

Rugby Tournament: CAR Development Trophy, North

18.07.2009
The tournament being held in the tiny republic of Togo, is a rugby festival for emerging African nations in Northern Africa.

Situated 32km north of Lome, the republics capital, this town has hosted the tournament comprising of national rugby teams from the hosts, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Mali, Burkino Faso and Niger. Chad withdrew and Togo 'B' made up the numbers.

After a week of intense competition finals day takes place this Saturday.

The Final
Niger v Ghana

Preview
Niger's only blemish during the week was a 11-11 draw with Mali. They defeated Benin 10-3 and hosts Togo 6-3 to reach the final.

Ghana easily defeated Togo 'B' 43-0 then had a hard 5-5 draw with Nigeria before defeating Burkino Faso 17-7 to determine the top position in Pool B.

Apart from the second Togo team, the playing standards look very even at this level of international rugby. A lot will depend upon injuries and who is left standing after an intensive week of rugby with daily temperatures between 25 and 30deg.

Previous Encounters
These two teams have never met before.

GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Ghana 17th, Niger 20th

Prediction: Ghana by 9 points

Teams not available

Other Matches
Playoff for 3rd-4th
Togo v Burkino Faso

There is little between all the teams. Hosts Togo and Burkino Faso could both easily have been in the final. Burkino Faso's loss to Ghana was a big disappointment as the Burkino team won last year's tournament. The hosts will also be very strong.

GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Burkino Faso 18th, Togo 22nd

Prediction: Burkino Faso by 12 points.

Playoff 5th-6th
Mali v Nigeria

Again not a lot between these teams. Mali drew 11-11 with Niger who is in the final, whilst Nigeria drew 5-5 with Ghana the other finalist!

GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Nigeria 19th, Mali 21st

Prediction: Nigeria by 6 points

Teams not available

Playoff 5th-6th
Benin v Togo 'B'

Togo 'B' was the fill-in team and Benin should win comfortably.

Prediction: Benin by 30 points.

Test Rugby: CAR Development Trophy Begins

This tournament is being held in the West African republic of Togo. The eight teams are all from within the region.

10.07.2009
Niger v Benin in Lome (Pool A)
Togo v Mali in Lome (Pool A)

11.07.2009
Burkino Faso v Nigeria in Lome (Pool B)
Ghana v Chad in Lome (Pool B)

Niger v Benin
These two teams have never met before.

GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Does not apply as Benin last played test rugby in 2006.

Prediction: Niger by 40 points

Togo v Mali
Previous Encounter
23.06.2008 Togo 3-0 in Accra (CAR Development Trophy, North B)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Togo 22nd, Mali 24th

Prediction: Togo by 14 points

Burkino Faso v Nigeria
These two teams have never met before

GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Nigeria 17th, Burkino Faso 20th

Prediction: Nigeria by 21 points.

Ghana v Chad
Previous Encounter
23.06.2008 Ghana 17-8 in Accra (CAR Dev. Trophy, North A)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Ghana 21st, Chad 23rd

Prediction: Ghana by 14 points

2008 A Year of Rugby Part 5

CAR Nations 20th-28th

Benin
Benin did not participate in international rugby in either 2007 and 2008 and thus falls off the ladder.

28th Burundi
Burundi played two matches in 2008, both at home in Bujumbura. The first was against a Belgian Club side made up mainly of Congolese. The Kibubu RFC played in place of the side from Congo who pulled out of the CAR Development Cup, South, Pool A tournament. Burundi went on to lose 5-7 to neighbour Rwanda.

27th Swaziland
Swaziland's only game in 2008 was against Botswana in Gaborone to decide who would move on to the World Cup qualifying matches for Africa. The 7-25 loss eliminated Swaziland.

26th Algeria
Algeria played its first ever international rugby test against Tunisia 'B' in Nabeul. The Algerians won 8-7. They also played club sides in France and look set to enter the CAR competitions soon.

25th Rwanda
Rwanda travelled to Bujumbura to play in the CAR Development Trophy, South, Pool A. They defeated the home side Burundi 7-5. Unfortunately they were unable to play the winner of the other CAR South winner.

24th Mali
Mali played its first international rugby test in 2003. Since then they have failed to make much impression in the local tournaments. in 2008 the team travelled to Accra, Ghana to play in the North Zone, Pool B. All the games were low-scoring affairs, and although they drew 3-3 with Niger they lost their other games.

23rd Chad
Chad first played international rugby in 2006. They won their first ever test match 10-0 against Mali in the CAR Development Trophy Tournament in Accra, Ghana. The Chadians lost their two other games.

22nd-Togo
Togo won two of their three games in the 2007 CAR Castel Beer cup matches in the tournament played in Lagos. They won only one match in this years tournament, thus slipping to 22nd on the African ladder.

21st Ghana
As host of this years CAR Tournament for Africa's minor nations, the Ghanese were expected to do well. They lost to Burkino Faso by one point but it was enough to push them out of the final. They won their other two games comfortably.

20th Burkino Faso
Winners of the CAR Castel Beer Trohpy, North Pool B tournament in 2007, the Fasians were expected to challenge strongly for the title in 2008. They defeated Chad easily in their first game but only just won 9-8 against hosts Ghana in the second. Niger was too strong for them in the final.

For a full list of all the above nations international rugby results go to www.rugbyinternational.net.

Next I will cover Africa from 10th to 19th place