Shujaa Breeze to Cup Quarters After Perfect Day One In Zimbabwe

The men’s national rugby 7s side got the perfect day one at the ongoing 2023 Rugby Africa 7s Cup taking place in Harare, Zimbabwe as they topped Pool B following wins in all their three matches.

Having swept aside Nigeria and Namibia in the opening two matches, the Kevin ‘Bling’ Wambua coached side maintained their unblemished start with a 38-12 victory over Zambia in the final group stage match to seal their passage as table toppers in Pool B.

Tries from Vincent Onyala, Nygel Amaitsa, Patrick Odongo, Beldad Ogeta and a Samuel Asati brace got the job done for Kenya in the third consecutive victory.

It all started with Asati slicing his way past the Zambian defence after Kenya retained possession straight from kickoff.

The diminutive scrumhalf touched down under the posts to help Kenya take a 7-0 lead after a successful conversion by Tony Omondi.

Also Read: Shujaa Pump Fifty Against Namibia ForSecond Win In Zimbabwe

Onyala then extended Kenya’s lead to 12-0 with an unconverted try at the corner before the Zambians reduced the deficit to 12-5 after Asati missed a last ditch tackle.

The KCB man however atoned for his error with his second of the match which was once again converted before Nygel Amaitsa, who bagged a hattrick on his debut against Nigeria, got on the scoring act.

Patrick Odongo and Menengai Oilers’ Beldad Ogeta then wrapped up the comfortable win with tries apiece.

Elsewhere, hosts Zimbabwe topped Pool C and reached the cup quarters alongside defending champions Uganda while Zambia joined Kenya from Pool B.

South Africa and Madagascar qualified for the cup quarters from Pool A while Burkina Faso and Nigeria reached the last eight by virtue of being the best third placed teams at the close of pool play.

Shujaa will now face Burkina Faso in the first cup quarterfinal after topping Pool B. The hosts will play Madagascar before Zambia take on Uganda. South Africa will finish the quarterfinal action against Nigeria. 

Also Read: Bling, Fadhee, Sewe: The Kenya 7s BenchBrewed Over 18 Years of Friendship

Day 2 Fixtures

Sunday 17 September 2023

Cup Quarters

QF1 | Kenya v Burkina Faso | 1000

QF2 |Zimbabwe v Madagascar | 1022

QF3 |Zambia v Uganda | 1044

QF4 | South Africa v Nigeria | 1106

9th Place semis

Tunisia v Algeria| 1128

Namibia v Ivory Coast | 1150

5th Place Semis

Loser QF1 v Loser QF2 | 1306

Loser QF3 v Loser QF4 | 1328

Cup Semis

Winner QF1 v Winner QF2 | 1350

Winner QF3 v Winner QF4 | 1412

11th Place Playoff

Loser 9th Place semi 1 v Loser 9th Place semi 2 | 1434

9th Place Playoff

Winner 9th Place semi 1 v Winner 9th Place semi 2 | 1456

7th Place Playoff

Loser 5th Place semi 1 v Loser 5th Place semi 2 | 1550

5th Place Playoff

Winner 5th Place semi 1 v Winner 5th Place semi 2 | 1614

Bronze Medal Playoff

Loser Cup semi 1 v Loser Cup semi 2 | 1641

Gold Medal Match

Winner semi 1 v Winner semi 2 | 1718

Round 1 Results

Zimbabwe 12 -12 Burkina Faso

Uganda 45 -7 Algeria

Zambia 31-12 Namibia

Kenya 34 -10 Nigeria

Madagascar 43 - 5 Tunisia

South Africa 39 - 0 Ivory Coast

Round 2 Results

Zimbabwe 45-5 Algeria

Uganda 45-7 Burkina Faso

Zambia 38-12 Nigeria

Kenya 50-0 Namibia

Madagascar 40-5 Ivory Coast

South Africa 43-0 Tunisia 

Round 3 Results

Burkina Faso 41-7 Algeria

Namibia 19-22 Nigeria

Kenya 38-12 Zambia

Tunisia 33-5 Ivory Coast 

South Africa 38-14 Madagascar 

Uganda 5-35 Zimbabwe