The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has officially unveiled the national team that will fly the country’s flag at the 2025 Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens Championship, scheduled to hold from June 21 to 22 at the Labourdonnais Sports Club in Mauritius.
The 12-man squad, led by captain Kitto Oliver, includes standout names such as Kolade Adedoyin, Gabriel John Etim, Matthew Ilube, Joshua Addams, Tuoyo Anthony Egodo, Oghenesuvwe Obano, Frederick Henry-Ajudua, Richard Adeniyi-Jones, Declan Nwachukwu, Isa Omale, and Akeem Yusuf. Two additional players, Michael Ogunwole and John Tobi Anthony, have been selected as reserves for the tournament.
Head coach Steve Lewis will lead the team’s technical crew, supported by team manager Azeez Ladipo and team medic Dr. Fikunola Orafidiya. The Stallions Sevens team will wrap up their final preparations at a training camp in London before departing for Mauritius.
The championship will see Nigeria competing against eleven of the continent’s top rugby sevens nations, including powerhouses like South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Tunisia. Other participating teams include Madagascar, Zambia, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and hosts Mauritius.
Nigeria has been drawn into Pool B alongside formidable opponents South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Zambia. The Stallions are set to kick off their group stage campaign on Saturday, June 21, opening against South Africa at 7:06 a.m. West African Time. Their second fixture follows against Burkina Faso at 9:28 a.m., with their final group game against Zambia scheduled for 12:12 p.m.
Coach Lewis expressed confidence in the squad’s readiness, noting that the team has undergone a rigorous two-month training programme. As part of their build-up, the team participated in several competitive outings, including the Abeokuta Cup 7s in Nigeria and three high-intensity tournaments in the United Kingdom — namely the London Floodlit 7s, Summer Socials, and Manor 7s.
“We’re very pleased with the progress and commitment shown by the players throughout the build-up,” Lewis remarked. “It’s particularly encouraging to have Declan Nwachukwu and Kolade Adedoyin return from injury. We’re also excited about the new energy brought in by fresh call-ups such as Joshua Addams, Isa Omale, Tuoyo Egodo, and Akeem Yusuf.”
The NRFF further extended its gratitude to the National Sports Commission, corporate partners, and fans for their continued backing, assuring that the federation remains committed to pushing Nigerian rugby to greater heights both on the African continent and globally.
The winner of the two-day tournament in Mauritius will earn a coveted qualification spot for the 2025 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, offering a critical gateway to elite-level international rugby for emerging nations.
