The national rugby sevens team has secured their spot at the Olympics for the third consecutive time, achieving qualification on Sunday. Shujaa’s path to qualification required winning the Rugby Africa Cup, which they accomplished by defeating tough opponents, notably stunning South Africa’s Blitzboks with a 17-12 victory in the final.
Their triumph was a come-from-behind effort, as they trailed 12-7 at halftime. John Okoth’s decisive try proved to be the turning point that lifted Kenya to victory, breaking South African hearts in the process.
While the Blitzboks narrowly missed out on direct qualification, they still have a chance to secure their spot by winning the Olympic repechage, where the 12th and final slot for Paris 2024 will be up for grabs.
In their journey to qualification, Shujaa displayed their prowess by defeating hosts Zimbabwe with a score of 35-10 in the semifinals on Sunday. South Africa secured their place in the final by defeating Uganda with a score of 26-14 in the other semifinal match.
In the previous Olympic edition in Tokyo, Shujaa finished in the ninth position. Their performance at Rio 2016 saw them secure the 11th spot. This latest qualification marks another opportunity for Kenya’s national rugby sevens team to make their mark on the Olympic stage.
