South Africa made a confident start to their campaign at the WBSC Africa Baseball5 Qualifiers in Lusaka, securing a 2–1 series win over Kenya to open their tournament on a positive note.
The South Africans dropped the opening game 5–6 but quickly regrouped to take the next two innings 9–6 and 10–5, showing strong resilience and composure under pressure. Their offensive sharpness and quick defensive recoveries proved decisive in closing out the match and earning the early victory.
Elsewhere on Day 1, Zambia defeated Burkina Faso 2–0 (5–4, 6–2), and Tunisia overcame Cape Verde 2–0 (7–1, 6–4), while the final scheduled game between Burkina Faso and Tunisia was postponed.
At the end of the opening day, South Africa, Tunisia, and Zambia each hold a 1–0 record, placing them jointly at the top of the standings.
South Africa will now look to build on their momentum on Day 2, facing host nation Zambia in the morning and Burkina Faso later in the day — two crucial games that could shape their path toward the semi-finals and qualification for the 2026 WBSC Baseball5 World Cup in Italy.
