The Namibia national rugby team lost their inaugural Rugby Africa Cup match Pool A Qualifier 24-13 to Ivory Coast at the Alassane Ouattara High School Stadium in Grand Bassam on Saturday.

The match which was Allister Coetzee’s first in charge, was a 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifier.

Ivory Coast dominated the match which was monitored by this agency online, scoring three tries which were all converted and a penalty while Namibia scored two tries and a penalty.

The host scored their first try in the fifth minute through captain Bakary Meité, which was converted by Ezer Kosse.

In the 10th minute, Ivory Coast scored their second try through Paul Diallo and Kosse converted.

Namibia scored their first points through Helarius Kisting, who converted a penalty.

The Ivorians then scored a third converted try before Namibia scored their first try through Gino Wilson just before halftime.

Kisting failed to convert leaving the scoreline 08-24.

The second half saw a much-improved performance by Namibia and they scored their second try, which again was not converted, leaving the final scoreline 24-13 in favour of Ivory Coast.

Namibia will play their next match on Wednesday (07 July) against Madagascar.

The best two teams of each of the four pools qualify for the Rugby Africa Cup 2022 (Top 8), which will serve as the final Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification event.

Namibia is ranked 25th in the world, while Ivory Coast is ranked 42nd.

Namibia had several first team players unavailable, but fielded 12 who featured in the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Source: Namibia Press Agency