Shujaa Through To Cup Semis After Burkina Faso Win

The men’s national rugby 7s side, Shujaa, booked their spot in the main cup semifinals of the ongoing 2023 Rugby Africa 7s Cup taking place in Harare, Zimbabwe as they beat Burkina Faso 26-0 in the first quarterfinal.

Tries from Patrick Odongo, Beldad Ogeta and a brace from John Okoth helped the Kevin ‘Bling’ Wambua coached side make the last four as they continue their quest of making the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Burkina Faso had managed to hold their own in the opening proceedings but the West Africans were made to pay after being shown a yellow card that reduced them to six men midway through the first half.

Shujaa called for a scrum and Patrick Odongo easily touched down at the corner after the team exploited the space left out wide.

From the ensuing restart, Shujaa extended their lead through John Okoth who was at the right place to finish off the move that had started with Vincent Onyala collecting Tony Omondi's kick.

Okoth then sold a deadly dummy just metres out as he bagged his brace before substitute Beldad Ogeta goth the fourth and final try after a clever offload by William Mwanji.

The result saw Shujaa set up a semifinal clash against hosts Zimbabwe who beat Madagascar 26-10 in the second quarterfinal.

Defending champions Uganda also booked their last four spot with a 15-19 win over Zambia. They will now clash against South Africa for a place in the final after the Blitzboks swept aside Nigeria 27-0

The 12-team tournament is serving as the African qualifiers to the 2024 Olympics where only the winner will book the automatic ticket to Paris, France next year.

The second and third placed teams will have to go through a final qualification Repechage tournament in June 2024 where they will join teams from Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America and South America with the winner of that event taking the 12th and final slot to the Olympics.

Cup Quarters

QF1 | Kenya 26-0 Burkina Faso

QF2 |Zimbabwe 26-10 Madagascar

QF3 |Zambia 15-29 Uganda

QF4 | South Africa 27-0 Nigeria 

Cup Semis

SF 1 | Kenya vs Zimbabwe | 1350

SF 2| Uganda vs South Africa | 1412

Bronze Medal Playoff

Loser Cup semi 1 v Loser Cup semi 2 | 1641

Gold Medal Match

Winner semi 1 v Winner semi 2 | 1718