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Kenya and Uganda faced off on Saturday July 2 in Aix-en-Provence as part of the Rugby Africa Cup organized in France. The Kenyans beat their Ugandan neighbors (42-7), easily qualifying for the semi-final of this competition.
The Simbas did not need long, Saturday July 2 in Aix-en-Provence, to confirm their status as favorites against Uganda in the quarter-finals of the Rugby Africa Cup. From the 2e minute, Kenyan center three-quarter John Okoth Okeyo scored a try between the Uganda posts and allowed his side to take the lead.
The Kenyans did not let go of him throughout the meeting, showing greater technical and physical qualities. Ranked 52e at the global level, Uganda has tried to make its formidable neighbour, 35e global. But the Ugandans then lost precious balls which their opponents took advantage of to score on the counter, like second-row Thomas Okeyo Ongera who scored a try in the 12the minute for Kenya following a magnificent race.
Very mobile, the Kenyans suffocated their opponents and managed to make up for their defensive errors when the Ugandans finally managed to show themselves dangerous. Despite the scorching sun and a temperature of around 33 degrees, they maintained the same rhythm and offered the 400 or so spectators present in the Maurice-David stadium some fine three-quarter attacks.
The fougue of John Okoth Okeyo
Half an hour into the game, the clear Kenyan domination only resulted in a slight lead in the score (14-0), the referee having refused two tries for forward. Four minutes later, scrum-half Samuel Mosiori Asati in turn beat the Ugandan defense to flatten the ball. And the end of the first half turned into a nightmare for Uganda: reduced to 14 after the temporary expulsion of one of its players, it conceded a fourth try, signed Bethuel Anami Muteshi.
Kenya was not content to manage its wide lead (28-0) in the second half, the Simbas continuing to largely dominate the meeting. Cornered in their 22 meters, the Ugandans defended valiantly but could not do anything against the ardor of John Okoth Okeyo, who scored twice in the 45e minute. The sixth try happened to him at the 56e minute, after a good job of pounding the forwards concluded by Brian Otieno Juma.
In a last last stand, the Ugandans finally managed to bring danger to the opposing camp during the last quarter of an hour. With the support of the whole public, Jacob Ochen ended up scoring a try, converted by the back Philip Wokorach, one of the rare Ugandan players playing in France.
Winner 42 to 7 of this match played under a blazing sun, Kenya can now rest for its semi-final, July 6 in Marseille, against the winner of the match between Senegal and Algeria.