Ghana’s Under-12 rugby team has been crowned champions of the Tournoi International Marie Kore Rugby Tournament in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in what officials have described as a landmark moment for the country’s emerging rugby scene.

The team, popularly known as the Eaglets, triumphed against national youth sides from Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Togo to bring home the prestigious trophy.

On Thursday, 12 February 2026, the victorious squad, led by Ghana Rugby President Rafatu Inusah, paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon Kofi Adams, where they formally presented the trophy.

The visit was both celebratory and reflective. Madam Inusah highlighted some of the challenges the team faced in preparing for the tournament but praised the resilience and determination shown by the young players.

The team’s captain expressed pride in their achievement, pointing to teamwork and discipline as the key ingredients behind their success.

Hon. Adams congratulated the Eaglets on their “outstanding performance,” commending their sportsmanship and focus.

“We have the talent; what we need now are the amenities and infrastructure to nurture and develop rugby further,” the Minister said. He also called for rugby to be integrated more widely into school sports programmes to help identify and groom future stars.

While acknowledging that funding remains a challenge across many sporting disciplines, he assured the team that the government is working to mobilise resources to support youth development.

He encouraged the players to prioritise their education and remain disciplined, urging them to serve as ambassadors for Ghanaian sport both on and off the pitch.

The tournament, designed to promote youth rugby across West Africa, offered a platform for young athletes to showcase their potential. For Ghana, the victory represents more than silverware, it signals growing promise in a sport traditionally overshadowed by football.

For the young Eaglets, their triumph in Abidjan is a moment of pride and perhaps the beginning of a new chapter for rugby in Ghana.