Nigeria Defeats Ghana 19–12 in Final Match of Africa Men’s Sevens Tournament …as stallions Close Campaign with Victory in ‘Jollof Derby’

By Ugbede James

Nigeria’s national rugby team, the Stallions, ended their 2025 Africa Men’s Sevens campaign on a high note with a hard-fought 19–12 win over West African rivals, Ghana’s Leopards, in what has been dubbed the “Jollof Derby.”

The tightly contested encounter saw Nigeria edge ahead with a combination of pace, discipline, and tactical execution, holding off a determined Ghanaian side that refused to back down.

The win sealed a 7th-place finish for Nigeria, a significant leap from their 11th-place standing in the previous edition of the tournament.

Nigeria’s campaign was a rollercoaster of emotions, starting with a tough opener against continental powerhouses, South Africa. Despite falling 17–5 to the Blitzboks, the Stallions earned praise for their spirited defense and unyielding determination.
They responded emphatically in their second group game, storming past Burkina Faso with a commanding 29–12 win that reignited hope and belief within the squad.

In their final group stage match, the Stallions faced Zambia in a nail-biting contest. Despite putting up a gritty fight, Nigeria narrowly lost 14–7 in what was one of the most closely fought games of the round.

In the quarterfinals, Nigeria took on the Shujaa of Kenya in a high-octane showdown. Missing a few regulars due to injury, the Stallions battled hard but couldn’t hold back the Kenyan tide, eventually losing 43–12 to one of Africa’s elite sides.

The team returned for the placement rounds with determination, meeting Zambia again in a déjà vu clash. This time, Nigeria matched their opponents stride for stride, covering every inch of the pitch with intensity. However, they fell just short, losing 26–22 in another fiercely contested game.

With the victory, the Stallions conclude their campaign with pride, bouncing back from earlier setbacks in the tournament to finish strong.

The annual Africa Men’s Sevens, held this year in Kigali, Rwanda, serves as a key qualifier for international sevens competitions, including the Olympics and World Rugby Sevens Series.