Zimbabwe captain explains how they denied Kenya Simbas a World Cup ticket
Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 14.10.25. | 16:10
What began as a fiery East-versus-South battle turned into heartbreak for the Simbas, who had led for most of the game
Zimbabwe Sables captain Tapiwa Malenga has opened up on the mindset that powered his team past Kenya Simbas in the Rugby Africa Cup semifinal, a match that doubled up as a 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifier.
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The Sables came from behind to claim a dramatic 29-23 victory over Kenya on Sunday, 13 July, at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.
That result ended the Simbas’ World Cup dreams and propelled Zimbabwe to their first qualification since 1991 after they later defeated Namibia in the final.
What began as a fiery East-versus-South battle turned into heartbreak for the Simbas, who had led for most of the game.
Kenya went into halftime with an 18-13 advantage, having dominated possession and territory. However, familiar problems, handling errors, lapses in concentration, and missed kicking opportunities proved costly in the closing stages.
Zimbabwe’s fly-half Ian Prior once again displayed his class, punishing every Kenyan mistake with precision kicking.
The former Western Force player had already shone in the quarterfinal against Morocco, where he scored 23 points, and against Kenya, he replicated that form with unerring accuracy from the boot.
For the Simbas, the inability to convert pressure into points hurt their chances. Without a dependable kicker to match Prior’s precision, every missed penalty and unforced error widened the gap.
Their struggles in closing out games also resurfaced. In the previous round against Uganda, they had nearly squandered a commanding lead before Barry Young’s last-gasp drop goal saved them. Against Zimbabwe, there was no such rescue.
Speaking after their fourth-place finish at the Safari 7s over the weekend, Malenga credited his team’s composure and determination for the turnaround.
“It was the best feeling knowing that your country is finally back at the World Cup after such a long time. It gave players in Zimbabwe the chance to showcase their talent on a global stage,” Malenga said.
The soft-spoken skipper also praised his teammates for maintaining belief even when trailing.
“At the end of the day, it always comes down to who wants it more. The Kenyan team had the upper hand in the first half and even early in the second, but as Zimbabwe, we stayed calm and focused on our goal to win it.
We kept our composure, and in the second half, we managed to turn things around,” he added.
Malenga went on to laud Prior’s influence, calling him a key figure in the team’s success.
“Ian Prior is a talented player. He has been there, played professional rugby, and brings a great level of maturity to the game. He was very composed, especially with his kicks,” Malenga said.
Despite the defeat, the Zimbabwe captain was full of praise for Kenya’s quality and fighting spirit.
“Kenya has strong 7s and 15s sides. They come at you hard and never stop. They bring the same energy, intensity, and physicality every time,” he noted.
Zimbabwe finished fourth at the 2025 Safari 7s after falling 19-12 to Kenya Morans in the third-place playoff.
