Shujaa suffered their first defeat to the USA while the Kenya Lionesses struggled, as Germany and Argentina claimed victory at the Nairobi HSBC Division II Sevens.
The USA Eagles brought Shujaa’s impressive winning streak to an end with a clinical 21-5 victory in a crucial pool clash, silencing the home crowd at Nyayo Stadium.
Both teams came into the second day of the tournament with perfect records. Kenya, known as Shujaa, were riding high after a 17-7 win over Uruguay, who extended their unbeaten run to four matches. The USA, despite an earlier 28-7 loss to Germany, were equally determined to secure a top spot.
From the outset, the Americans asserted their dominance. The first half saw the Eagles take control when a clever kick ahead broke through the Kenyan defence.
Lucas Lacamp was the quickest to react, collecting the ball and scoring the opening try. He successfully converted his own score, giving the USA a 7-0 lead at the break.
Shujaa struggled to find their offensive rhythm throughout the contest. Promising attacks were frequently thwarted by handling errors and misplaced passes at critical moments, preventing them from building any sustained pressure.
The second half offered little relief for the home side. USA forward Aaron Cummings powered through for a second converted try, with Lacamp once again accurate with the kick to push the lead to 14-0.
The Eagles continued to apply pressure, and substitute Adam Channel crossed the line for a third converted try, extending the score to a commanding 21-0.
Kenyan captain George Ooro finally gave the home supporters something to cheer about with a late consolation try, sprinting down the right wing to put Shujaa on the scoreboard and deny the USA a shutout. However, it was too little, too late to change the final result.
The 21-5 loss leaves Kenya level with the USA on 12 points in the standings. The Eagles, however, advance due to a superior points difference of 73 compared to Kenya’s 65.
Shujaa had started their second day with a commanding 17-7 win against Uruguay. The victory marked Shujaa’s fourth consecutive win in the opening leg of the 2026 campaign.
The hosts delivered a composed performance that underscored their ambitions for promotion. Tries from John Okoth, George Ooro, and co-captain Samuel Asati secured the win and maintained their flawless record in the pool stage.
Shujaa controlled the game’s tempo and possession from the start, applying consistent pressure and demonstrating clinical finishing. While Uruguay showed moments of resistance, Kenya’s disciplined defensive structure proved too formidable to break down.
Kenya Lionesses HSBC Sevens Day 2 Action
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The Kenya Lionesses faced a challenging start to their HSBC 7s Series campaign, with a pattern of conceding early points ultimately undermining their efforts across the tournament.
In their final match, Kenya began promisingly as Freshia Oduor scored a try just two minutes into the game. However, Spain quickly turned the tables.
Abril Camacho Ruiz and Denisse Gortazar responded with tries in the eighth minute, before converted scores from Silvia Morales and Carmen Miranda Miralles in the ninth minute sealed Kenya’s fate.
Despite the early lead, the Lionesses could not sustain their momentum and ultimately fell short. The team’s sole victory came in a remarkable comeback against Brazil on the opening day.
After falling behind 12-0, the Lionesses mounted a spirited fightback. Tries from Stella Wafula, Janet Okelo, and Naomi Amuguni in the 8th, 9th, and 12th minutes, respectively, secured a hard-fought win.
In their opening game, the Kenya Lionesses suffered a heartbreaking 5-0 loss to Argentina, who were later crowned champions. In a tense and low-scoring contest at Nyayo National Stadium, the Lionesses delivered a spirited defensive performance in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. Clear opportunities to score were scarce for both sides throughout the match.
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From the start, Kenya demonstrated strong intent, applying aggressive pressure and maintaining a compact defensive line that successfully disrupted Argentina’s rhythm.
The hosts were relentless at the breakdown and showed disciplined tackling during extended periods of defence, forcing their opponents into repeated phases while looking for turnovers.
The breakthrough finally came when Marianela Escalante found a gap in the Kenyan defence to score the match’s only try, giving Argentina a decisive lead.
In response, the Lionesses mounted a late surge, pushing deep into Argentine territory and applying sustained pressure in a desperate search for an equalising score. However, the visitors’ defence held firm, securing the narrow victory.
Shujaa will now turn their focus to the next leg of the HSBC SVNS 2 series in Montevideo on March 21-22, where they will aim to bounce back and continue their promotion campaign.
HSBC Sevens Division II Nairobi leg men’s final standings:
1. Germany – 13 pts
2. USA – 12 pts
3. Kenya Sevens – 12 pts
4. Uruguay – 8 pts
5. Belgium – 6 pts
6. Canada – 4 pts
