Rugby Africa Men's 7s: Morans' title defense ends with heartbreaking quarterfinal loss

Kenya's quest to retain their 2023 Africa Men's 7s title ended in disappointment in Mauritius after a dramatic 10-7 defeat to Zimbabwe in the quarterfinals.

This marks the second consecutive year the Kenyan team, also known as the Morans, were knocked out at this stage.

Coach Louis Kisia's men started strongly, with Amon Wamalwa weaving through the Zimbabwean defense to score the opening try, putting Kenya ahead 7-0.

However, the lead didn't hold. Zimbabwe fought back in the second half, and Shingirai Katsvere scored a try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 7-5.

A yellow card for Zimbabwe gave Kenya a chance, but despite winning a ruck and kicking the ball out, Zimbabwe was given one last play by the referee. Kenya faltered at the lineout, allowing Zimbabwe to snatch victory with a second try, winning the match 10-7.

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As a result, the Morans dropped to the fifth-place playoff.

Elsewhere, Madagascar continued their dominance with a 7-0 victory over Tunisia, advancing to the Cup semifinals. South Africa also secured their spot in the semis with a convincing 27-5 win against Burkina Faso.

The overall winner will be determined by points accumulated across both rounds. The top two ranked teams after both rounds will qualify for the 2025 World Rugby 7s Challenger Series.

Morans Squad in Mauritius: Brian Mutua (CC), Ben Salem (CC), William Mwanji, Dennis Abukuse

Elvis Olukusi, Richard Liva, Gabriel Ayimba, Harmony Wamalwa, Festus Shiasi, Joel Inzuga, Victor Odhiambo, Edmund Anya

Head Coach: Louis Kisia, Team Manager: Morgan Ngumbi, Physio: John Elly

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