Herbert Mensah hails Africa’s rugby success, says continent’s sporting future is bright

By Isaac Yeboah

Rugby Africa President and World Rugby Chair of Regional Associations, Herbert Mensah, has hailed the performance of African athletes at the Olympic competition in Senegal, describing the continent’s three-medal haul in rugby as a powerful demonstration of its immense sporting potential.

Mr Mensah, who expressed delight at the performances of the participating African teams, said the achievements had reinforced his long-held conviction that Africa possesses some of the world’s finest raw sporting talent, despite persistent gaps in infrastructure, athlete development and institutional support.

Speaking after attending the competition in Senegal, he said Africa’s success in rugby, particularly the performances of the women’s teams from Kenya and Madagascar and the South African men’s side, offered compelling evidence of what the continent could achieve with the right investment and development structures.

“Six medals, three went to Africa. Three went to Africa. That is massive. Well done, Africa,” he said.

The Africa Rugby President also paid tribute to Kirsty Coventry, president of the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic leadership for making it possible for the Olympic movement to bring the Youth Olympic Games to African soil, describing the experience as an important moment for the continent.

He said the opening ceremony, which showcased Senegalese and African culture, had been a fitting expression of the continent’s identity and its capacity to host major international sporting events.

“I have felt honoured to have been part of the group of people, the masses, who attended an opening ceremony that showed African culture, through Senegal, at its very best,” he said.

Expressing particular gratitude to Ms Coventry, he added: “A big thank you from the bottom of my heart. Africa thanks you, Kirsty.”

Kenya’s Lionesses make Africa proud

Mr Mensah reserved special praise for Kenya’s women’s rugby team, whose gold-medal triumph, he said, demonstrated the determination, resilience and fighting spirit that have come to define African sporting excellence.

He recalled watching the final against Australia alongside two prominent Kenyan rugby figures, former Olympian Humphrey and Sheila, captain of Kenya’s senior women’s team.

The tension, he said, was palpable throughout the encounter, with even the experienced former Olympian visibly nervous as Kenya battled one of the strongest teams in world rugby.

He said the contest ultimately came down to determination and the desire to win, qualities he believed the Kenyan players displayed in abundance.

“As I said to Sheila before the game, it is all about heart. Who really wants to win this game more?” he recalled.

The Kenyan Lionesses, he said, fought relentlessly until the final moments, eventually securing victory and giving their country and the African continent a moment to celebrate.

“The Kenyan Lionesses fought right the way through to the end, making Kenya proud and certainly making Africa proud.”

For Mr Mensah, the significance of the victory extended beyond the medal itself. It was evidence that African teams could compete with and overcome established rugby powers when given the opportunity and preparation.

He congratulated Kenya for a performance he described as worthy of continental pride.

Madagascar’s youngsters capture hearts

The Madagascar women’s team also earned special recognition from the Africa Rugby President for their remarkable performance, particularly the determination shown by the young players throughout the competition.

He described the team’s players as extraordinary, saying they outplayed and outlasted virtually all their opponents, with their only defeat coming against their fellow Africans from Kenya.

What particularly moved him, however, was their reaction to receiving their medals.

He said the young Malagasy players celebrated their podium appearance with the enthusiasm and pride of champions, demonstrating the values and spirit that the Olympic movement seeks to promote.

“Up on the podium, receiving their medals, it was as though they had won the gold medal. I think that is the true spirit of the Olympic family,” he said.

Mr Mensah said the ages of the competitors made their achievements even more remarkable, noting that some were just 16 and 17 years old.

For him, their performances represented more than success at a single competition. They offered a glimpse into the future of African rugby and the possibilities that could emerge from sustained investment in youth development.

He said the ability of such young athletes to compete against more established opponents should encourage African sporting authorities to pay greater attention to identifying, nurturing and retaining emerging talent.

Springbok youngsters impress

Turning to the men’s competition, Mr Mensah singled out South Africa’s young Springboks for their exceptional individual abilities, describing them as arguably the most naturally gifted group of players he watched at the tournament.

He said the technical quality and skill displayed by the South Africans were particularly impressive and suggested that several of the players could develop into formidable international stars.

Although South Africa’s campaign was challenged by an outstanding Argentina side in the semi-final, he wondered what might have been possible had the encounter not taken so much out of the young Springboks.

He acknowledged France as probably the most complete team throughout the competition but cautioned that South Africa’s emerging talents should not be underestimated.

“I think when we look in five years’ time at who is playing for the national team, I would be afraid of some of those young Springboks that I saw,” he said.

His assessment, he explained, was based on the individual talent and technical abilities demonstrated by the players, which he believes could translate into considerable success at senior international level.

Senegal and Uganda offer hope for the future

Beyond the medal winners, Mr Mensah said the performances and enthusiasm of young athletes from Senegal and Uganda had left him optimistic about the future of rugby in both countries.

He acknowledged that the two countries might not have achieved everything they had hoped for at the competition but insisted that the potential he witnessed among their young players was significant.

He was particularly encouraged by the enthusiasm of Senegalese children and young people who turned out in large numbers to support the competition.

The atmosphere in the stadium, he said, was evidence of the capacity of major sporting events to inspire young people and generate a sense of continental identity.

He observed that while the spectators were understandably passionate about Senegal, their enthusiasm also extended to other African participants.

“The number of youngsters who came into the stadium, who were screaming for anything Africa, anything Senegal, yes, but anything Africa,” he said.

He believes that enthusiasm, if properly harnessed, could become an important foundation for growing rugby’s popularity and participation across the continent.

For Senegal, he said, the opportunity was particularly significant because the country already possessed an established football identity but also had considerable room to develop its rugby potential.

He expressed similar optimism about Uganda, saying the country had the foundations to become an increasingly important force in African rugby.

Madagascar, he noted, had a particularly strong relationship with the sport, with rugby deeply embedded in the country’s sporting culture.

He believes improvements in coaching, administration, infrastructure and other internal development structures could unlock even greater potential.

Africa must turn sporting talent into economic opportunity

Beyond the immediate excitement of the competition, Mr Mensah used the occasion to renew his call for a fundamental change in how African governments, businesses and sporting institutions perceive sport.

He argued that sport should no longer be viewed merely as recreation or entertainment but as a major economic sector capable of generating employment, attracting investment and creating opportunities for millions of young Africans.

According to him, the African sporting ecosystem could be worth approximately $20 billion over the next 10 to 15 years, presenting an enormous opportunity that the continent must be prepared to exploit.

“The African ecosystem for sport in the next 10 to 15 years is going to be some $20 billion. And I have been shouting this, that sport is big business,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to change their mindset and recognise the commercial, developmental and social opportunities associated with sport.

For Africa to benefit fully, however, he believes the continent must invest in its own athletes and create an environment in which they can develop their careers without having to permanently relocate elsewhere in search of opportunities.

He said African athletes who travel abroad for exposure, competition or professional development should be encouraged to maintain strong links with their home countries and return to contribute to the development of local sporting systems.

Mr Mensah said Africa’s population of approximately 1.4 billion people represented an enormous reservoir of talent, particularly when viewed against the opportunities available in rugby and other sporting disciplines.

He believes the continent must build stronger structures around that talent, from schools and grassroots programmes to elite training facilities and professional competitions.

While acknowledging the importance of developments in sports science, nutrition, physical conditioning, education and institutional structures, he maintained that Africa’s natural sporting abilities were beyond dispute.

“The world may have changed in sports in terms of nutrition, how we build up our core strength, how we put structures in place, how our school systems facilitate this and how we educate people on what it takes to be better and to be the best.

“But in terms of pure, raw talent, I think it is undeniable what Africa has.”

A lasting Olympic legacy for Africa

As he reflected on his experience in Senegal, Mr Mensah said he was leaving the country with a profound sense of joy and optimism about what the competition could mean for the future of African sport.

He believes the achievements of the young athletes, the enthusiasm of the spectators and the opportunity to host an international Olympic event on African soil should serve as a catalyst for a more ambitious sporting future.

For him, the three rugby medals won by African countries were not simply a statistical achievement. They were a statement of possibility.

They demonstrated that African athletes, when provided with the opportunity to compete on the international stage, could challenge established sporting nations and emerge victorious.

He said the challenge now was to ensure that the excitement generated by the competition did not end with the closing ceremony but translated into concrete investments in grassroots development, facilities, coaching, competitions and sustainable sporting institutions.

He also called on Senegal to recognise that its sporting future need not be defined exclusively by football, pointing to the country’s considerable potential in rugby.

Kenya, he said, already understood the opportunities available in athletics and rugby, while Madagascar had demonstrated what a strong grassroots rugby culture could produce.

Uganda, too, had the potential to build on its existing sporting strengths.

Ultimately, Mr Mensah believes Africa’s greatest opportunity lies in recognising the value of its young people and creating the structures necessary to transform their abilities into lasting sporting and economic success.

He concluded by once again thanking Kirsty Coventry for helping bring the Olympic experience to Africa, describing the opportunity as one that had given the continent fresh reason to believe in its sporting future.

“In leaving Senegal, I leave it full of joy. I really do,” he said.