Ghana thumps Benin in Rugby African Regional Challenge

Ghana’s Rugby team (Eagles) annihilated their counterparts from Benin (Squirrels) by 46-5 in African Regional Challenge at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

The Eagles secured their first victory in the competition in thrilling fashion, as they struck their first try in the fifth minute when Ghana’s outside center Theoplilus Opai maneuvered his way through the porous defence of Béninois.

Opai subsequently failed to convert his penalty kick as Eagles took a 5-0 lead.

The Squirrels hit back instantly through winger Mathias Sekenou who scored his team’s first try after a lose pass by Eagles defence, as he eased past them to levelled things up. He beautifully converted his penalty as Benin took a 7-5 lead.

The Eagles responded very well through hooker, Abdul Mumuni Ali Yusif Jalilu, who restored Ghana’s lead on the 18th minute mark, as he scored the second try for his team’s as Theoplilus Opai expertly converted his penalty to give Ghana a 12-5 lead.

Eagles full back, Yusif Jalilu scored third trial on the 20th minute mark, after run past the defence of the Béninois. Ghana’s penalty failed this time round to convert his penalty spot.

Last in the first round Yusif Jalilu struck again to give the Eagles an overwhelming 29-5 going into recess.

The Eagles started the second half on the front foot, running with purpose and creating space as they scored fifth try through Theoplilus Opai to give Ghana 34-5 lead.

The Béninois failed to map out a strategy for the impressive eagles, who continued to exert their dominance on the game as they subsequently scored their sixth try through flanker, Dorpenyo Alex expertly converted penalty by Opai saw Ghana taking a resounding 41-5 lead.

Things got worse for Benin when Eagles prodigy Opai when he scored Ghana’s seventh try again to give them a comprehensive 46-5 victory over the Squirrels.

The Eagles will face off against arch-rivals Togo on 7 May in the last round match of the competition.