Shujaa ended their Olympics run with a hard-fought 10-5 win over Samoa at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Two tries from John Okoth proved enough to hold off the Samoans and secure victory for Kenya’s Shujaa on a rainy Saturday in Paris, Stade de France.
READ: Shujaa Lands First Win for Kenya in Paris Olympics
Okoth, who was the most valuable player of the match, was on the verge of completing a hat trick. His determined efforts helped Kenya secure ninth place in the rugby men’s sevens tournament.
It was a match of vindication for Shujaa, who had earlier lost 26-0 to Samoa in their Pool B encounter.
After some solid defensive work by Shujaa, they were able to fend off the Islanders and keep things organized, while conceding minimal fouls or making errors.
A more fluent Kenya set the pace, winning turnovers in critical moments and almost came close to extending their lead after a nifty interception and inside pass rereleased Okoth seconds before the break.
A clever ankle tap sent the big man tumbling just meters from the try line, following an unsuccessful quick restart that resulted in a knock-on, much to the dismay of head coach Kevin Wambua.
Despite the shaky start to the tournament, where slim odds separate victory and defeat, Shujaa ended their tour in Paris on a high and will have something positive to take back home.
