Kenya 7s’ hopes of advancing to the final in Munich were dashed after a narrow 19-17 defeat to Germany.
Despite an impressive group stage performance with victories against Chile, Portugal, and Japan, Shujaa couldn’t secure a win in the knockout stage against the hosts.
Germany, who topped Group A with seven points, showcased their prowess early in the match. A defensive lapse by Shujaa allowed Makonnen to break through and score, giving Germany a 7-0 lead, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Kenya quickly responded, with Odongo demonstrating remarkable speed to outpace his marker, narrowing Shujaa’s deficit to two points. Onyala’s clever play drew in defenders, freeing up Amaitsa to give Kenya their first lead of the match at 10-7.
However, Germany fought back, leveling the score just before halftime after sustained pressure on the Kenyan defense. Both teams were temporarily reduced to six men due to yellow cards.
Shujaa regained the lead early in the second half when John Okoth powered through two German defenders to score, igniting the Kenyan supporters and giving Kenya a 17-12 advantage.
Despite Kenya’s momentum, Germany capitalized on another defensive lapse. Jakob Dipper exploited a gap in the stretched Kenyan defense to score, tying the game at 17-17.
In a critical moment for Kenya, Ambetsa stumbled with an open path to the try line, resulting in a penalty that ultimately sealed Shujaa’s fate. The final score stood at 19-17 in favor of Germany, ending Kenya’s aspirations of reaching the tournament final.
