Kenya Simbas sailed into the semi final stage of the Rugby Africa Cup after a nervy 32-24 win over hosts Uganda at the Namboole Stadium in Kampala.

The win, secured through 6o minutes of hard running rugby by the Kenyan boys, was however not the most enjoyable for Kenyan fans in the end, after the Ugandans threatened a late comeback. Kenya lead 29-10 with 20 minutes to go but the Ugandans fought back to 29-24, it was not to be as  the Simbas held on for victory.

They will face Zimbabwe in their semifinal Sunday at 4 PM Kenyan time. The winner will book a place at least in the World Cup playoffs by qualifying for the final.

Kenya opened the scoring, Griffin Chao gassing his man on the outside before brushing off Aaron Ofoyrwoth’s tackle attempt to slam it down at the corner. Barry Robinson would extend Kenya’s lead, slicing through the black and gold defence after Jone Kubu drew in three defenders to make it 12-0.

Ofoyrwoth would claw one back just before half time for Uganda, taking a quick tap before accelerating into a retreating red defence from less than than ten yards out, Wokorach added the extras to make it 12-7 at halftime.

Barry Robinson slotted in a drop kick, at the beginning of the second stanza to make it 15-7 but Wokorach would then pull Uganda to within a try of Kenya from the boot to make it 15-10.

Skipper Nyambua George would dampen the atmosphere at Namboole, barging in from close range to make it 22-10 with Kubu accurate from the right for the extra two points and moments later, a fantastic set piece move would see Chao receive a cut back from Samuel Asati to go through untouched to make it 29-10 with twenty minutes left on the clock.

The impressive Wokorach then produced dazzling feet to score and cut the gap to 29-17 with less than a quarter an hour left to play and then a few minutes later, an Adrian Kasito grubber kick allowed an oncoming Byron Oketayot to ground the ball to make it a five point game with ten minutes left on the clock, scores now 29-24.

Barry Robinson though, would punch holes into the Uganda comeback, slotting in a drop kick for an eight point lead, the last score of the game for a 32-24 win, allowing Kenya sail into the semis against Zimbabwe scheduled for Sunday, July 13, 2025 at the same venue.

Namibia will take on Algeria in the second semi to determine the finalists. Namibia saw off the challenge of Senegal 55-17 in their quarterfinal clash with the Algerians beating the Ivory Coast 41-6 to book their spot in the last four.