Kenya Simbas hold off late Ugandan surge to keep Elgon Cup title
By Rama Mohammed |
Kenya Simbas retained the Elgon Cup title with a narrow 27-25 victory over Uganda Cranes at Nairobi's RFUEA Grounds.
The Kenya Simbas retained their hold on the 2024 Elgon Cup title after narrowly defeating Uganda Cranes 27-25 in a tense match at RFUEA Grounds, Nairobi, on Saturday, 9 November. The Simbas defended the title they last claimed in November 2023 with a victory over Uganda in Kisumu.
Kenya started strong, breaking through Uganda’s defense with a try by Griffin Chao. Although the conversion missed, Kenya took an early 5-0 lead. Uganda soon responded but missed consecutive penalty attempts, allowing Kenya to maintain their lead. The Simbas capitalized on a powerful lineout play, with Misoga scoring Kenya’s second try and Timothy Omela converting to push the lead to 12-0.
Keep reading
- Death toll in Uganda landslide that buried several villages rises to 28
- Death toll in Uganda landslide rises to 17, dozens of homes buried
- Uganda confirms Kenya's role in Kizza Besigye's abduction from Nairobi
- UN human rights chief calls for release of Uganda's Kizza Besigye after abduction in Nairobi
Uganda fought back, with Pius Ogena and Innocent Gwokto scoring tries to give Uganda a narrow 14-12 advantage by halftime. Early in the second half, Uganda extended their lead with a penalty, but Kenya soon reclaimed control. Brian Wahinya’s try, followed by Omela’s conversion, put Kenya ahead 19-17. Wahinya later scored again, stretching Kenya’s lead to 24-17.
Uganda remained relentless, scoring another try to close the gap, though missed conversions left Kenya narrowly ahead. Jone Kubu added a crucial penalty to extend Kenya’s lead to 27-22. Uganda added a penalty of their own, bringing the score to 27-25 in the final minutes, but the Simbas held firm.
This hard-earned win sends the Simbas into the second leg of the Victoria Cup in Uganda on Saturday, 16 November, with momentum on their side.
Reader comments
Follow Us and Stay Connected!
We'd love for you to join our community and stay updated with our latest stories and updates. Follow us on our social media channels and be part of the conversation!
Let's stay connected and keep the dialogue going!