Kenya 7s Stun South Africa To Qualify For Paris 2024 Olympics
17th September 2023
Shujaa recorded a famous 17-12 victory to book the automatic ticket to Paris 2024.
- Shujaa beat the South Africans 17-12 to clinch the African title.
- Patrick Odongo scored two tries with John Okoth adding the third effort.
- Shujaa automatically book their ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics as the African representatives.
The men’s
national rugby 7s side, Shujaa, have booked their ticket to a third successive
Olympic Games after stunning rugby powerhouse South Africa 17-12 in the Rugby
Africa 7s Cup final played on Sunday evening in Harare, Zimbabwe.
A brace from youngster Patrick Odongo and John Okoth helped Shujaa book the automatic ticket that was only reserved for the winners of the African competition.
The Kevin ‘Bling’
Wambua coached side were the first to record points on the scoreboard when
Odongo unleashed his pace once again before touching down under the posts to help
Kenya to a 7-0 lead following Tony Omondi’s successful conversion.
The Blitzboks
however had an instant riposte that came through Selvyn Davids who sliced
through the Kenyan defence to reduce the deficit to 7-5 following a missed
conversion.
The South
Africans took a first-time lead minutes later when Christie Grobelaar made the
Kenyans pay for gifting the ball away cheaply as he touched down a converted
try.
The effort
however came at a cost as he had to be substituted immediately after for what
looked like an injury as South Africa led 7-12 at the break.
In the
second half, Odongo was on hand again to restore parity as he exploited space
out wide, beating his markers for pace to tie the game at 12-12.
With the
momentum on their side, Kenya took advantage as Okoth touched down at the
corner after Shujaa sucked the South Africans in the middle of the pitch before
playing out wide, Kenya retaking a 17-12 lead.
What
remained was for Kenya to see out the remaining two minutes and despite failing
to do so with just seconds to go when they knocked on the ball to gift the
Blitzboks possession, they managed to force a turnover after the hooter had
sounded to seal the crucial win.
As a
result, Kenya now qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics as the African
representatives following their victory.
South Africa and dethroned champions Uganda, who beat Zimbabwe 24-12 to clinch third spot, will have to go through a final qualification Repechage tournament in June 2024 where they will join teams from Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America and South America with the winner of that event taking the 12th and final slot to the Olympics.
Cup Quarters
QF1 | Kenya 26-0 Burkina Faso
QF2 |Zimbabwe 26-10 Madagascar
QF3 |Zambia 15-29 Uganda
QF4 | South Africa 27-0 Nigeria
Cup Semis
SF 1 | Kenya 35-10 Zimbabwe
SF 2| Uganda 14-26 South Africa
Bronze Medal Playoff
Zimbabwe 12-24
Uganda
Gold Medal Match
Kenya 17-12 South Africa