Kenya Simbas hammer Senegal to reach Rugby Africa Cup semis

Kenya Simbas players sing the national anthem before playing Senegal.[Courtesy,X]

Kenya Simbas kicked off their 2024 Rugby Africa Cup campaign on the front foot after thrashing Senegal 36-17 in their opening match played at Nelson Mandela Stadium, Namboole, in Uganda on Saturday.

Kabras Sugar forward Eugene Sifuna and Menengai Oilers’ Beldad Ogeta bagged a brace each as the Simbas avenged their 2021 defeat at the hands of the West Africans who beat them 20-19 three years ago.

Senegal were first off the blocks after taking a 3-0 lead early into the game through a penalty after Sifuna was penalized.

Simbas co-captain Sifuna rectified his mistake after he opened the scoring for Kenya after grounding a maul try that was converted by the returning Timothy Okwemba for a 7-0 lead.

Sifuna doubled the lead for Kenya with another try, barging over after several drives in Senegal’s zone. Despite an easy angle, Okwemba missed the conversion, leaving Kenya with a 12-3 lead.

Beldad Ogeta’s then showed some brilliance, trickery and speed after launching a counterattack where he beat three markers before going over for an acrobatic somersault center-post try for a 19-3 lead.

The West Africans however had the last laugh of the half after doting their first try to cut Kenya’s lead to 19-10.

In the final half, center Bryceson Agesa forced his way over for a try, extending the lead to 26-10 after Okwemba’s conversion.

The Simbas conceded several penalties, allowing the Senegalese to score off a scrum shove, with Lamine Sylla picking the ball and touching down before the try was converted for a 26-17 scoreline.

The Senegalese continued to push for a try, but it was the Simbas who had the last laugh, landing the final try of the match through Ogeta for a 36-17 win.