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Winger Vincent Mose was the man of the day scoring all points as Kenya
vanquished Tunisia 16-7 to lift their maiden Africa Cup title at the
Rugby Football Union of East Africa grounds in Nairobi on Saturday
afternoon.Tunisia opened the scores through a Marwen Ben Yahya try after
a few missed tackles by the Kenya backline. Salim Barhoumi converted for
a 7-0 lead. Mose reduced the deficit by drilling in two penalties to
keep the scores at 7-6 at half time.
Mose would then score Kenya's only try of the game shortly after the
break. Brian Okwomi chased and turned over the ball from a Tunisia ruck,
following a Patrice Agunda kick deep into Tunisia's territory, and Mose
stepped away from the Tunisian cover defense to dive home for a try. He
converted his own try to give Kenya a 13-7 lead. Mose drove the final
nail in Tunisia's coffin with his third penalty of the day, leaving the
scores at 16-7 until full time.
Coach Michael “Tank” Otieno praised his charges, saying he was impressed
at the victory despite some things not going according to plan. “The
display was a big improvement especially in our physique and strength,
as we dominated the scrumdowns. We had planned to seal the game off
early but that didn't happen as we played a scrappy game. The Tunisians
also kept getting off side and we punished them for that. But a win is a
win, and we will now work to improve on what we have achieved.”
The win was not only for continental supremacy, but is expected to
improve Kenya's IRB World ranking. They now await CAR's action on
Morocco and Namibia after the two sides pulled out of the tournament
citing financial incapability. Vincent Mose is the man of the moment!
He single-handedly steered Kenya to a historic 16-7 win over Tunisia on
Saturday at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa ground as Kenya
became the new champions of the Africa Rugby Confederation (CAR) Cup
champions.
This is the first time Kenya has won the diadem and the third time
they have beaten Tunisia in Nairobi squaring the record to 3-all.
Kenya had to rally from 0-7 down after Tunisia went ahead after only
six minutes of the game with a converted try. Mose then kicked two
penalties as Kenya trailed 6-7 at half time. He then scored and
converted the winning try. Tunisia employed the same tricks while in the
lead and whenever Kenya had possession.
| Players feigned injury to slow down the game
every time Kenya had possession. The winning try came via a
turnover from the 30 meters, Patrice Agunda kicked over the
advancing Tunisian backs and the whole back line chased. It was
Mose who got the lucky bounce beat two Tunisian players before
touching down at the center post. He calmly converted. The
championship was however reduced to a two-nation affair after
Namibia and Morocco (the two highest ranked African countries
besides South Africa) pulled out. Namibia cited financial
problems but it is not clear why Morocco withdrew.
But for the next year, Kenya has the bragging rights and
remains in the top tier of the CAR competition. The win will see
Kenya climb up the International Rugby Board rankings when the
new listings are done.
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Before the match, Kenya was placed 40th and Tunisia 35th
Kenya: Joel Ng'ang'a, Vincent Ongera, Peter Mutai, Dennis Karani,
Anthony Mutai, Ronnie Mwenesi, Duncan Ekasi, Andrew Amonde, Brian Okwomi,
Charles Kanyi, Linus Simiyu, Victor Sudi (Captain), Patrice Agunda,
Anthony Nyandi'gisi,Isaac Adimo, Vincent Mose, Matthew Musita, Curtis
Lilako, Daniel Kiptoo, Dennis Mwanja, Kevin Umbuge, Kelvin Omiyo.
Tunisia: Mliss Mohamed,Chahir Aouadi, Lamjed Charrada,Mohamed Ali
Kochlef, Cheli Heithem,Hedi Soujd, Mourad Soujd, Khaled Zegden
(Captain), Abdelmajid Zemzem,Nizar Abdelrahmen, Dridi Mohamed, Nizar Ben
Abdelwahed, Salim Barhoumi, Gafsi Mohamed Ali, Kilifa Chamssedine,
Marwen Ben Yahya, Souguir Ab. |
Kenya
beat Tunisia to become Africa Champions