On October 3rd and 4th, Mauritius will host the Africa Men’s Sevens, a major event in African rugby sevens. Eight teams, including Burkina Faso, Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia, Reunion, and South Africa, will compete for the top spots. For the Makis, the 2025 African vice-champions, the goal is clear: finish in the top three to continue their journey toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualification tournament.
South Africa naturally emerges as the main favorite. The Springboks Sevens possess experience and a depth of players unmatched by most of their African rivals. Their dominance in 2025 is hard to ignore, having defeated Madagascar 28-12 in the Africa Men’s Sevens final.
Kenya is also a serious contender for the podium. Accustomed to the highest international level, the Kenyans regularly compete on the world circuit and have a highly developed sevens culture. On paper, they have a slight edge over Madagascar.
However, the Makis have a trump card: their recent progress. Their second-place finish in 2025 was no coincidence. Madagascar reached the final before falling to South Africa, confirming their ability to compete with the best teams on the continent.
Antsoniandro Andrianorosoa, Technical Director of Malagasy Rugby, stated: “For Madagascar, the stakes go far beyond a simple ranking. A podium finish in Mauritius would open a new door toward Olympic qualification. While waiting for the matches, our players continue to train hard at the Makis Andohatapenaka stadium.”
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-11 06:23:56 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/rugby-vii-africa-mens-seven-les-makis.html