Day one of the 2026 HSBC SVNS 2 at Nyayo National Stadium delivered thrilling contrasts as Shujaa lit up home soil with flawless performances while the Kenya Lionesses struggled to find consistency in the women’s competition. The opening day set the stage for a dramatic finale tomorrow, with both Kenyan sides still in contention but heading into the last round under very different circumstances.

Shujaa were ruthless from the first whistle. Against Canada, Patrick Odongo opened the scoring with a strong finish before calmly converting for a 7-0 lead. Moments later, he struck again for his brace, stretching Kenya’s advantage and asserting dominance early. By halftime, Shujaa led 17-7, already signaling their intent.

In the second half, Nygel Amaitsa crossed for a try with the conversion added, while Festus Shiasi and Chrisant Ojwang also found the line. Kenya sealed a convincing 29-12 victory to kick off their campaign on a high.

Their second match against Belgium was even more commanding. Samuel Asati, Chrisant Ojwang, and Vincent Onyala crossed in quick succession, with Odongo adding another before halftime to leave Shujaa 26-0 up. Floyd Wabwire’s try in the second half completed a 33-0 blowout, showing Kenya’s attacking depth and defensive discipline.

The day’s final test came against Germany, a side that had previously ended Kenya’s home unbeaten run in 2021. Germany struck twice in the first half to lead 10-0, but Kenya responded with Amaitsa and Odongo scoring to level the scores at 10-10. The closing moments were tense, with Odongo producing a miraculous try-saving tackle on the line to force sudden-death extra time. In golden time, Kevin Wekesa won a crucial turnover and Festus Shiasi burst through for the winning try, sealing a dramatic 15-10 triumph. Shujaa completed a clean sweep and ended day one second overall behind the USA on points difference.

While the men soared, the Kenya Lionesses endured a tough opening day. They began with a narrow 15-12 win over Brazil, showing moments of promise, but faltered in their next two matches. China edged them 15-12, and South Africa narrowly defeated them 12-10, leaving the Lionesses with just one win from three matches. The results highlight the challenges ahead for the women as they attempt to recover and stay competitive in their pool.

Day 1 Full Results

Women
Kenya Lionesses 15-12 Brazil
Kenya Lionesses 12-15 China
Kenya Lionesses 10-12 South Africa

Men
Kenya 7s 29-12 Canada
Kenya 7s 33-0 Belgium
Kenya 7s 15-10 Germany

Tomorrow’s Fixtures

Men
Kenya 7s vs Uruguay – 12:50 pm
Kenya 7s vs USA – 5:02 pm

Women
Kenya Lionesses vs Argentina – 11:44 am
Kenya Lionesses vs Spain – 3:56 pm