2022 MEA Rugby League Championship

Last updated
2022 Middle-East Africa Championship
Number of teams4
Host countryFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana
Winner Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria (2nd title)
Matches played4
 < 2019
< 2020

The 2022 Middle East-Africa Rugby League Championship was the third MEA Rugby League Championship, following the 2015 and 2019 tournaments, and the cancelled 2020 edition. [1]

Contents

The competition was held between 27 September to 2 October 2022 in Ghana. Originally, the competition was going to see the return of the same four teams from the 2019 tournament; Nigeria, Morocco, Cameroon and hosts Ghana. On 23 August 2022, Kenya were named to replace Morocco in the tournament when Morocco were forced to withdraw from the tournament due to governance issues. [2] The winners of the tournament were intended join the next phase of qualification for the 2025 Rugby League World Cup, [3] however the 2025 World Cup ended up being cancelled.

Participants

TeamCoachPrevious
Apps
Previous best result World
Ranking
[a]
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon Flag of England.svg Kahlil Njoya1First round (2019)36
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana Flag of England.svg Andy Gilvary1First round (2019)31
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria Flag of England.svg Bolu Fagborun 1Champions(2019)28
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya Flag of Kenya.svg John Mbai0DebutN/A
  1. IRL World Rankings are as of July 2022. [4]

Squads

On 14 September 2022, each competing nation announced their squads for the tournament. [5]

Cameroon

Jean Claude Bidjana, Armel Damdja, Cyrille Kamole, Nzokou Martial, Hermand Nguele, Patrick Nkouak, Lamare Oudi (Bulls RL), Emmanuel Tientchue (Gorilla RL), Mouhamed Embella, Christian Tedjou, Loic Tsasse (Guepard RL), Philippe Ambassa, Bekolo Elie Jean Bliase, Ledoux Fosso, Fabrice Joufang, Frank Watio (Panda RL) Pitoile Assomo, Paul Atungsiri Ndifor, Georgane Ngoufack (Rock RL) Carol Manga, Khalil Njoya (Unattached).

Ghana

Yakubu Suleman (Accra Majestics), Jonas Moorkaar (Accra Panthers), Anane Benjamin, Bawa Bright, Geotrah Desmond, Collins Ofosu, Nigel Sackey (Bulls), Levi Osei (Canterbury Bulldogs), Sean Sabutey (Glebe Dirty Reds), Oliver Puman (Nungua Tigers), Jonathan Adotey, Philip Asomani, John Bless Mensah (Pirates), Emmanuel Acheampong, Riddick Alibah, Jordan Annan, William Pearce Biney, Chris da Gama, Francis Lawson,David Nartey (Skolars), Isaac Akuoko (Wyong Roos).

Kenya

Denish Ndinya (AP), John Awiti Oketch, Raymond Ekutu (Rhinos), Tony Khadambi, Brony Lucky, Timothy Thimba (Ruffians), Joel Inzuga, Eliakim Kichoi, Celestine Mboi, Floyd Wambwire, (Sharks), James Maranga, Ramadan Masete, Finely Mokoro, Remi Odhiambo, Victor Odhiambo, Philimon Olang, Paul Seda (Winam), Horus Alela, Ahmed Hamed, Collin Ochieng, Wyclif Ratemo (Wolves).

Nigeria

Anthony Tuoyo Egodo (Birmingham Mosley RFC), Michael Ayodeji Ogunwole (British Army), Abdullah Balogun (Castleford Tigers), Kalu Shedrack Agwu (Eko Trinity), Daniel Okoro (Hull KR), Jude Abrakson, Emmanuel Onyekwe Ebuk, Julius Godwin, Nuhu Ibrahim, Gabriel John, Issa Omale, Ibrahim Suraju, Bashir Usman, Obi Wilsom (Kano Lions), Azuka Chika, Daniel John, Isah Lawal-Saulawa (Bedford Tigers), Olisa Nwokedi, Kelvin Olisa, Akeem Yusuf (Lagos Haven), Rio-Osayomwanbo Christoper Corkill (St Helens).

Bracket

Semi-finals Final
    
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 26
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 6
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 4
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 30
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 36
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 2 Third place
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 16
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 0

Fixtures

Semi-finals

27 September 2022
13:00 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg26–6Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Tries: Bless, Acheampang (2), Da Gama Odun(2)
Goals: Da Gama Odun (3)
Report (ERL)
Tries: Matua
Goals: Hamed
University of Ghana Sports Grounds, Accra [6]
Referee: Aaron Moore (England)
Team details
GhanaPositionKenya
NameNumberNumberName
Isaac Akuoko11Philemon Olang
Chris Ebo Da Gama Odun22Joel Inzuga
John Bless33Brian Mutua
Desmond Geotrah44Tony Khadhambi
William Pearce Biney55Collins Ochieng
Collins Ofosu66Shabani Hamed
Sean Sabutey77John Awiti
Alibah Riddick Agrokwah88Horus Alela
Jonas Moorkar99Denish Ndinya
Nigel Nhampim Sackey1010Celestine Mboi
Emmanuel Acheampong1111Reymond Ekutu
Bawah Bright1212Paul Seda
Oliver Puman on Yelib1313Eliakim Kichoi
Philp Asomani1414Victor Ochieng
Levi Osei1515Ramadhan Masete
Jordan Issac Annan1616Wycliff Ratemo
Johathan Adotey1717James Maranga
Andy Gilvary
Coach
John Mbai


27 September 2022
15:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg36–2Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Tries: Gabriel, Godwin, Lawal, Ayodeji (3), Okoro
Goals: Gabriel (3)
Report (ERL)
Goals: Nkouak
University of Ghana Sports Grounds, Accra [6]
Referee: Aaron Moore (England)
Team details
NigeriaPositionCameroon
NameNumberNumberName
Daniel John11Watio Franck
Abdullah Balogun22Embella Mouhamed
Blank Tuoyo Egodo33Tientchem Manual
Olisa Kelvin44Nguele Hermand
Isah Lawal55Patrick Nkouak
Rio Osayomwambo66Nzokou Martial
John Gabriel77Armel Damjda
Kalu Shedrack88Bekolo Elie
Nuhu Ibrahim99Khalil Njoya
Ibrahim Suraj1010Ndifor Paul
Daniel Okoro1111Carol Manga
Jude Abrackson1212Joufang Tabrice
Michsael Ayodeji1313Cyrille Kamole
Jukien Godwin1414Lamarc Oudi
L Bashir Usman1515Bidjana Jean Claude
Emmauel Onyekwe1616Ngoufack Georgane
Yussef Akeem1717Fosso Ledoux
Bolu Fagborun
Coach
Kahlil Njoya

Third place play-off

1 October 2022
12:00 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 16–0Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Tries: Olang, Bryon (2), Iuzuga
Report (ERL)
University of Ghana Sports Grounds, Accra [6]
Referee: Aaron Moore (England)
Team details
KenyaPositionCameroon
NameNumberNumberName
Philemon Olang11Franck Watio
Ramadhan Masete22Mouhamed Embella
Collins Ochieng33Manuel De Porta
Lucky Byron44Cyrille Kamole
Jeol Inzuga55Hermand Nguele
Shabani Hamed66Patrick Nkouak
Victor Ochieng77Martial Nzokou
Horus Alela88Armel Damdja Tankeu
Denish Ndinja99Elie Bekolo
Paul Seda1010Khalil Njoya
Tony Khamdambi1111Paul Ndifor
James Maranga1212Carol Manga
Eliakim Kichoi1313Fabrice Joufang
Raymond Ekutu14
Brian Mutua15
Celestine Mboi16
Wycliffe Ratemo17
John Mbai
Coach
Kahlil Njoya

Final

1 October 2022
14:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg4–30Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Tries: Bless Mensah (44')
Goals: John (3)
Report (ERL)
Tries: Egodo (15'), Ayodeji (20'), Okoro (25'), Omale (39'), Ayodeji (67'), Lawal (76')
University of Ghana Sports Grounds, Accra [6]
Referee: Aaron Moore (England)
Team details
GhanaPositionNigeria
NameNumberNumberName
Isaac Akuoko11Daniel John
Chris da Gama22Isah Lawal
John Bless Mensah33Tuoyo Egodo
Desmond Geotrah44Olisa Kelvin
William Pearce Biney55Abdallah Balogun
Collins Ofosu66Gabriel John
Sean Sabutey77Rio Osayomwanbo
Riddick Alibah88Ibrahim Suraj
Philip Asomani99Isa Omale
Nigel Sackey1010Emmanuel Onyekwe
Emmanuel AcheamPong1111Jude Abrackson
Bahah Bright1212Daniel Okoro
Oliver Puman1313Michael Ayodeji
Jonas Moorkaar1414Julian Godwin
Levi Osei1515Bashir Usman
Jordan Annan1616Azuka Chika
Jonathon Adotey1717Yuseef Akeem
Andy Gilvary
Coach
Bolu Fagborun

See also

References

  1. "2020 Mea Rugby League Championship Postponed".
  2. "Kenya to replace Morocco in MEA Championship". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  3. "Ghana Rugby League to host 2022 Middle East Africa Championship". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  4. "Cook Islands rise 17 places in latest Rugby League World Rankings". Rugby League International Federation. 13 July 2019.
  5. "Squads Released for Middle East Africa Rugby League Championship".
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Draw made for 2022 Middle East Africa Rugby League Championship".