Kenya 7s players walk out from the pitch after the game (C) NOC-K
Following a 21-7 loss to Australia in their second Group B match on Wednesday at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris, Kenya Sevens will have everything to play for against Samoa on Thursday at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The loss followed a 31-12 defeat to Argentina in a match earlier on Wednesday at the same venue.
As a result, Kenya can only qualify for the knockout stages as one of the tournament's two best-ranked third-place teams.
Kenya will need a convincing win against Samoa on Thursday to seal one of those two spots, and they also hope that results in other groups favour them.
Kenya currently sits at the bottom of Group B with two points, having scored 19 points and conceded 52 points.
Samoa, on two points, is third in the group despite also losing to Australia (21-14) and Argentina (28-12), because they have a healthier points difference (-23) than Shujaa, whose points difference stands at -33.
A win against Samoa on Thursday is likely to boost Kenya's chances of featuring in the knockout stages leading to the medal bracket, as it will increase their points tally to five.
Coach Kevin Wambua maintained his confidence in the same players who started against Argentina: Samuel Asati, Anthony Mboya, Chrisant Ojwang, Kevin Wekesa, Patrick Odongo, John Okoth, and Vincent Onyala.
The match got off to an explosive start, with both teams exchanging successfully converted tries in the opening three minutes.
It was an opener that highlighted how crucial the match was to both teams, as victory increased either team's hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages to fight for a chance to feature in the medal bracket of the competition.
Having won 21-14 in an earlier match against Samoa, Australia already had one foot in the knockout stages and did not waste time outlining their intentions.
Dietrich Roache converted a try by Josh Turner in the first minute.
However, the Kenya Sevens demonstrated their determination to get a result, with captain Anthony Mboya scoring and converting a try two minutes later to draw Shujaa level at 7-7.
Parity, however, only lasted until the stroke of halftime, when Australia got ahead again with a try from Nathan Lawson. Roache made a successful run, and Shujaa trailed 14-7 at the break.
Unlike against Argentina, when Shujaa managed to draw level with a second try, this time there were no such heroics from the youthful Kenya Sevens side despite their best efforts.
Shujaa's resistance in the second half, which kept the score at a respectable 14-7, only lasted until a minute into the final when Corey Toole scored a try, which Dietrich, again, converted.
The match ended 21-7, with Australia confirming their place in the knockout stages.
