Determined Shujaa Fall to Argentina in Paris Olympics Opener

Kenya’s Shujaa kicked off the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on a challenging note, suffering a 31-12 defeat against the reigning World Rugby Sevens Series champions, Argentina. The match took place on Wednesday afternoon at Stade de France, marking the beginning of the pool B clashes.

The Kenyans displayed early promise as Chrisant Ojwang danced his way through Argentina’s defense to score in the fifth minute. Co-captain Tony Omondi successfully converted the try, giving Shujaa an early 7-0 lead. The Argentine side responded with a try by Agustin Fraga, but failed to convert, leaving Kenya ahead 7-5 at halftime.

Despite a strong first half, Shujaa struggled to maintain their momentum after the break. The experienced Argentines quickly took control, with Fraga scoring his second try, which was converted by Pellandini Joaquin, putting Argentina ahead 12-7. Kevin Wekesa then hit back for Kenya with an unconverted try, leveling the score at 12-12.

However, Argentina’s dominance became apparent as Elizalde Tomas secured a third try, converted again by Pellandini, bringing the score to 19-12. Further tries from substitutes Luciano Gonzalez and Marcos Moneta sealed Kenya’s fate, with the final score standing at 31-12 in favor of Argentina.

Despite the defeat, co-captain Omondi praised his team’s determination and emphasized their need to correct their mistakes before their next match. “We started very well and that was the game plan. We will now correct our mistakes before the Australia match. We need to be confident and then play our game,” Omondi told Citizen Digital.

Kenya’s Shujaa will face Australia in their second pool B fixture on Wednesday at 8 PM, with hopes of securing a victory to keep their quarter-final aspirations alive. They will conclude their preliminary matches against Samoa on Thursday at 4 PM. The top two teams in each pool will qualify for the quarter-finals, adding extra pressure on Shujaa to perform in their upcoming games.

In other pool B action, Australia narrowly defeated a determined Samoa side 21-14, thanks to a double from Henry Hutchison. The victory got Australia’s campaign off to a strong start and added to the pressure on Shujaa to deliver in their upcoming match against the Australians.

Elsewhere, the host nation, France, struggled to live up to their pre-tournament billing as favorites for Olympic Gold in rugby sevens. They were held to a 12-12 draw by the United States, much to the disappointment of the packed Stade de France crowd.

Double Olympic champions Fiji showcased their title credentials with a dominant performance, swatting aside Uruguay 40-12 with their typical flair. New Zealand, another rugby sevens powerhouse, also impressed in their opening match, reinforcing their status as strong contenders for the Olympic title.

Shujaa’s opening defeat highlights the challenges they face in a highly competitive pool B. The team’s ability to bounce back against Australia and Samoa will be crucial in determining their progression in the tournament. As they prepare for their next fixtures, the Kenyan side remains determined to showcase their resilience and rugby prowess on the global stage.