Former champions Namibia is the first nation to withdraw from the 2021 edition of Africa Barthes Cup championships set for June 24th to 4th July in Nairobi.
According to media reports in Namibia, the Namibia Rugby Union president Corrie Mensah issued a statement on Friday, following meetings with the minister of sport Agnes Tjongarero, after the Namibian government’s recent ban on contact sport due to Covid-19.
“The NRU regretfully had to notify Rugby Africa that we, under the prevailing conditions, unfortunately have to withdraw our under 20 teams from the Barthes Trophy competition. It is logic (sic) for the mere reason that the team will not be able to train and prepare properly,” he said.
Namibia was set to play Senegal, Zimbabwe and Ivory Coast in pool B. Barthes Cup was set to be held back in 2020 but postponed due to Covid-19 and related health concerns.
Pool A:
Kenya
Madagascar
Tunisia
Zambia
Pool B:
Namibia
Senegal
Zimbabwe
Côte d’Ivoire