Kampala: Namibian Rugby Union (NRU) rugby director Jacques Burger expressed satisfaction with the team's victory over Senegal but emphasized the need for an enhanced performance in their upcoming semifinal clash against Algeria.

According to Namibia Press Agency, on Tuesday afternoon, the Namibian team, known as the Welwitschias, triumphed over Senegal with a decisive 55-17 win in their opening match of the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda. This victory secured them a place in the semifinals where they will face Algeria on Sunday.

Jacques Burger, who is currently leading the team as the coach in Uganda, shared in an interview released by the NRU on Wednesday that the primary objective was to secure a win in the opening match of the tournament. "We had a tough first half but improved in the second, and we hope to be a better team in our next game against Algeria. We will work on many of the mistakes we made against Ivory Coast," he stated. Burger also mentioned that the team encountered numerous errors that placed them under significant pressure.

Burger remarked, "What we wanted was a win, regardless of how many points we scored, and we achieved that. Now, we look forward to our next match." Team captain Prince Gaoseb added that the squad remains optimistic, intending to review their performance to identify areas for improvement before facing Algeria on Sunday.

The 2025 Rugby Africa Cup features eight of Africa's leading rugby teams: Uganda, Namibia, Kenya, Morocco, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and the 2024 champions, Zimbabwe. These teams are competing in a knockout tournament for the continent's spot at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Additionally, the winner will qualify for the second division of the Nations Cup. Notably, with all qualification matches set to conclude by the end of 2025, this event marks a historic first in Men's Rugby World Cup history as all participating teams will be confirmed before the Rugby World Cup 2027 draw.