Paris 2024: Why Kenya Sevens must beat Samoa to save Olympics dream

Kenya's Samuel Asati (R) tackles Australia's Dietrich Roache (L) during the men's pool B rugby sevens match between Australia and Kenya during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on July 24, 2024. [AFP]

Kenya Sevens must defeat Samoa in their final Group B match on Thursday afternoon if they are to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive in the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Shujaa kicked off their campaign on the back foot on Wednesday after losing 21-7 and 31-12 to Australia and Argentina respectively in their opening two preliminary matches.

The two defeats mean that Kenya must overcome Samoa in their final preliminary match to have a chance at progressing to the last eight as one of the best third-placed teams.

The tournament format divided teams into three groups of four.

The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, advance to the quarterfinals. Winners of the quarterfinals move on to the semifinals, while the losers compete in a match for third place.

Teams eliminated in the quarterfinals will play in a mini-tournament for 5th to 8th places. The worst third-placed team and the last three teams in the group face off in the 9th to 12th place matches.

After two matches, Kenya are bottom in Group B with 2 points same as Samoa. However, Samoa occupy the possible best loser spot from the pool with a superior point difference.

Kenya has a point difference of -33 points while Samoa has -23 points.

Australia and Argentina are already through to the quarterfinals in Group after their two wins each.