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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
GOVERNMENT has congratulated the Warriors and Cheetahs rugby sevens for lifting the nation’s flag high with crucial victories in their respective competitions at the weekend.

The Cheetahs were crowned 2018 Africa Cup Sevens rugby champions in Monatsir, Tunisia, after upstaging African Sevens giants Kenya 17-5 in the final at the Jemmal Stadium on Sunday, while a day earlier the Warriors shocked the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in a Total African Nations Cup Group G qualifier. Ronald Pfumbidzai and skipper Knowledge Musona scored world class goals that left the host bemused.

The victory put the Warriors three points clear at the top of their group and well on course to qualify for the finals set for Cameroon next year.

“Congratulations to the Zimbabwe football and rugby teams for raising the country’s flag higher. The Warriors beat DRC 2-1, while the rugby team “The Cheetahs” were crowned Africa Sevens champions in Tunisia. Makorokoto, Amhlophe!” wrote the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting on its official Twitter account yesterday.

The Cheetahs won their Pool C group, which included hosts Tunisia and Mauritius.

They put on a great shift from the start winning 34-0 against Mauritius in their opening match and then silencing the hosts with a 26-5 win on day one.

They then accounted for Senegal 19-0 in the quarter-finals. But their defining moment came in the semi-final when they elbowed out defending champions Uganda 24-19 in a fiercely contested duel.

The match, which was a repeat of the 2017 final, was decided in sudden death after the teams were tied 19-19 at full time.

Uganda went to the break leading 19-0.

Zimbabwe pulled one try back and added the second through Chitokwindo before Shingirai Hlanguyo scored a converted try for a 19-19 tie.

Uganda, who were one-man down, were punished by Mkhululi Ndhlela as they tried a quick start from a line out.

The Cheetahs then capped it all with a marvellous run against the Kenyans, who had hitherto not lost a match.