2022 MEA Rugby League Championship

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]

2022 (2022) Middle-East Africa Championship  ()
Number of teams4
Host country Ghana
WinnerNigeria Nigeria (2nd title)
Matches played4
Tournaments
 < 2019
< 2020

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
Team Coach Previous
Apps		 Previous best result World
Ranking[lower-alpha 1]
 Cameroon England Kahlil Njoya 1 First round (2019) 36
 Ghana England Andy Gilvary 1 First round (2019) 31
 Nigeria England Bolu Fagborun 1 Champions (2019) 28
 Kenya Kenya John Mbai 0 Debut N/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
    
 Ghana 26
 Kenya 6
 Ghana 4
 Nigeria 30
 Nigeria 36
 Cameroon 2 Third place
 Kenya 16
 Cameroon 0

Fixtures

Semi-finals
27 September 2022
13:00 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Ghana  26–6  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 Akuoko1Fullback1Philemon Olang
Chris Ebo Da Gama Odun2Wing2Joel Inzuga
John Bless3Centre3Brian Mutua
Desmond Geotrah4Centre4Tony Khadhambi
William Pearce Biney5Wing5Collins Ochieng
Collins Ofosu6Stand off6Shabani Hamed
Sean Sabutey7Scrum half7John Awiti
Alibah Riddick Agrokwah8Prop forward8Horus Alela
Jonas Moorkar9Hooker9Denish Ndinya
Nigel Nhampim Sackey10Prop forward10Celestine Mboi
Emmanuel Acheampong11Second row11Reymond Ekutu
Bawah Bright12Second row12Paul Seda
Oliver Puman on Yelib13Loose forward13Eliakim Kichoi
Philp Asomani14Interchange14Victor Ochieng
Levi Osei15Interchange15Ramadhan Masete
Jordan Issac Annan16Interchange16Wycliff Ratemo
Johathan Adotey17Interchange17James Maranga
Andy GilvaryCoachJohn Mbai

27 September 2022
15:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Nigeria  36–2  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 John1Fullback1Watio Franck
Abdullah Balogun2Wing2Embella Mouhamed
Blank Tuoyo Egodo3Centre3Tientchem Manual
Olisa Kelvin4Centre4Nguele Hermand
Isah Lawal5Wing5Patrick Nkouak
Rio Osayomwambo6Stand off6Nzokou Martial
John Gabriel7Scrum half7Armel Damjda
Kalu Shedrack8Prop forward8Bekolo Elie
Nuhu Ibrahim9Hooker9Khalil Njoya
Ibrahim Suraj10Prop forward10Ndifor Paul
Daniel Okoro11Second row11Carol Manga
Jude Abrackson12Second row12Joufang Tabrice
Michsael Ayodeji13Loose forward13Cyrille Kamole
Jukien Godwin14Interchange14Lamarc Oudi
L Bashir Usman15Interchange15Bidjana Jean Claude
Emmauel Onyekwe16Interchange16Ngoufack Georgane
Yussef Akeem17Interchange17Fosso Ledoux
Bolu FagborunCoachKahlil Njoya

Third place play-off
1 October 2022
12:00 GMT (UTC±00:00)
 Kenya 16–0  Cameroon
Tries: Olang, Bryon (2), Iuzuga
 Report (ERL)
University of Ghana Sports Grounds, Accra[6]
Referee: Aaron Moore (England)
Team details
KenyaPositionCameroon
NameNumberNumberName
Philemon Olang1Fullback1Franck Watio
Ramadhan Masete2Wing2Mouhamed Embella
Collins Ochieng3Centre3Manuel De Porta
Lucky Byron4Centre4Cyrille Kamole
Jeol Inzuga5Wing5Hermand Nguele
Shabani Hamed6Stand off6Patrick Nkouak
Victor Ochieng7Scrum half7Martial Nzokou
Horus Alela8Prop forward8Armel Damdja Tankeu
Denish Ndinja9Hooker9Elie Bekolo
Paul Seda10Prop forward10Khalil Njoya
Tony Khamdambi11Second row11Paul Ndifor
James Maranga12Second row12Carol Manga
Eliakim Kichoi13Loose forward13Fabrice Joufang
Raymond Ekutu14Interchange
Brian Mutua15Interchange
Celestine Mboi16Interchange
Wycliffe Ratemo17Interchange
John MbaiCoachKahlil Njoya

Final
1 October 2022
14:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Ghana  4–30  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 Akuoko1Fullback1Daniel John
Chris da Gama2Wing2Isah Lawal
John Bless Mensah3Centre3Tuoyo Egodo
Desmond Geotrah4Centre4Olisa Kelvin
William Pearce Biney5Wing5Abdallah Balogun
Collins Ofosu6Stand off6Gabriel John
Sean Sabutey7Scrum half7Rio Osayomwanbo
Riddick Alibah8Prop forward8Ibrahim Suraj
Philip Asomani9Hooker9Isa Omale
Nigel Sackey10Prop forward10Emmanuel Onyekwe
Emmanuel AcheamPong11Second row11Jude Abrackson
Bahah Bright12Second row12Daniel Okoro
Oliver Puman13Loose forward13Michael Ayodeji
Jonas Moorkaar14Interchange14Julian Godwin
Levi Osei15Interchange15Bashir Usman
Jordan Annan16Interchange16Azuka Chika
Jonathon Adotey17Interchange17Yuseef Akeem
Andy GilvaryCoachBolu 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. "Draw made for 2022 Middle East Africa Rugby League Championship".


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