Kenya Morans seek to claim continental glory in All-African Games

12th March 2024 - by Luttah Njomo

Shujaa assistant coach Louis Kisia will take charge of the team in Ghana.

Floyd Wambwire leads out Kenya Morans during the 2023 Safari 7s. PHOTO| SportPesa
SUMMARY
  • The All-African Games are slated to take place from March 18 to 21 at the University of Ghana.
  • Morans have been pooled alongside Ghana, Egypt and a 16th-seeded side.
  • The squad will be co-captained by George 'Japolo' Ooro and Floyd Wambwire.

The Kenya Rugby Union has released the names of the 12-man squad set to represent the country at the All-African Games in Accra, Ghana.

The Kenya Morans team, which will fly out on Wednesday 13 March, will be captained by fast-rising forward George Oroo. Oroo returns to the side after missing out on the final squad for the 2023 Safari 7s in November 2023.

At the time, he missed out due to an injury sustained during a training session with his club, Strathmore Leos. However, he is now back to lead the Morans in the continental showpiece slated to take place from March 18 to 21 at the University of Ghana.

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Oroo joins the team fresh from the HSBC Challenger 2024 second round in Montevideo, Uruguay where Shujaa managed to maintain their primary objective of finishing in a top-four position.

Oroo will be assisted by Floyd Wabwire who earned his first senior call-up to the Shujaa squad during the Hamilton and Sydney 7s in 2023. Wabwire who joined Daystar Falcons RFC from St Peter's Mumias Boys' High School back in 2020 will be looking to impress and help the country bag a medal in the All-African Games.

Other prominent names included in the Morans squad include Steve Sikuta who was part of the Mwamba RFC squad that finished second in the 2019 National Sevens Circuit while making it to the Kenya Cup semi-final that season.

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Others included from the Uruguay squad include Dennis Abukuse (Menengai Oilers), Ben Salem (Nondescripts), Chrisant Ojwang (Nakuru) and Elvis Olukusi (KCB).

William Mwanji, Brian Mutugi, Cornelius Mokoro and Brian Mutua have also made the travelling party. Shujaa assistant coach Louis Kisia and KCB RFC team manager Philip Wamae will manage Morans during the competition.

Kenya's Pool

Morans have been pooled alongside Ghana, Egypt and a 16th-seeded side. They will kick off day one action against the 16th-seeded team before wrapping up day one action against Egypt.

They will then face Ghana on day two of the tournament after which the knockout stages will be confirmed.

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Other rugby powerhouses taking part in this tournament are Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Nigeria, Tunisia, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Libya, Niger, Benin and Togo.

The team which is set to fly out on Wednesday has been in training at the Moi International Sports Center.

Here are how teams have been pooled

Pool A: Kenya 7s, Ghana, Egypt, Seeded 16

Pool B: Uganda, Tunisia, RD Congo, Togo

Pool C: Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Niger

Pool D: Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Libya, Benin

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