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The Nairobian

Kenya to clash with Zimbabwe in Africa Sevens quarters

Rugby

By Washington Onyango | Jul 07, 2024

**Kenya Morans players hurdle before a past match.** [KRU,X]

Kenya's national rugby sevens team, the Morans, are set to renew their rivalry with Zimbabwe in the Africa Men’s 7s quarterfinals on Sunday, following a series of mixed results in their Group B preliminary stages.

Despite a narrow loss to Madagascar, the Morans' dominant performances against Algeria and Zambia secured their place in the last eight.

The Morans opened their campaign with a 26-7 victory over Zambia.

Amon Wamalwa was instrumental in the win against Algeria, scoring two consecutive tries that set the tone for the match. Victor Odhiambo added another try, ensuring a commanding 19-0 lead at halftime.

The Morans maintained their momentum in the second half, adding a converted try to finalize the score at 26-7.

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A convincing 47-0 victory over Algeria followed in their second match.

Amon Wamalwa opened the scoring, dotting down in the left corner after picking up the ball from the back of the scrum and racing to score.

Gabriel Ayimba then added the second try, muscling past defenders, with Denis Mwanji converting to extend the lead to 12-0.

William Mwanji further widened the gap, breaching the defense line and scoring the third try after cleverly changing direction to exploit a gap. Abukuse’s conversion brought the score to 19-0.

From the restart, Kenya quickly regained possession after the Algerians mishandled the ball, and Mwanji scored again after selling a dummy, bringing the halftime score to 26-0.

The second half saw Kenya continue their relentless assault. Abukuse raced in for a converted try, pushing the score to 31-0. Festus Shiasi added another converted try for a 41-0 lead, and Victor Odhiambo sealed the match with a try in the left corner, finalizing the 47-0 win.

In their final match, Kenya faced a formidable challenge from Madagascar. Despite a valiant effort, the Morans were edged out 24-19 in sudden death, a result that briefly dampened their spirits but did not derail their quarterfinal ambitions.

The team had already secured enough points to advance, thanks to their earlier win against Zambia.

Zimbabwe, known for their physicality and tactical acumen, will provide a stern test for the Morans.

The two teams have a storied history, with each match being fiercely contested. This quarterfinal clash promises to be no different, as both sides vie for a spot in the semifinals and ultimately the championship.