The 2025 Safari Sevens Tournament at Nyayo National Stadium delivered an unforgettable finish, as Kenya’s Shujaa completed a four-peat and the Kenya Lionesses reclaimed their crown on a charged final day filled with grit, precision, and raw emotion. From a moment of silence for Belgium Sevens coach Warren Abrahams to pitch-storming celebrations after the men’s final, Nairobi witnessed sevens rugby at its most human and most exhilarating.
Defining weekend at Nyayo Stadium
The story of this Safari 7s began with resilience. A Friday floodlight failure forced postponements to Saturday, which left Shujaa playing three pool matches instead of the usual two. They embraced the challenge at Nyayo National Stadium, stayed unbeaten in the group and turned adversity into momentum, while the Morans, Zimbabwe, Shogun Rugby, and KCB lit up a competitive field packed with ambition.
By Sunday, the atmosphere felt both celebratory and reflective. Before the men’s final, players and fans observed a poignant silence for Warren Abrahams, who passed away during the tournament. It was a unifying pause that reminded everyone that sport carries communities through triumph and loss, a theme echoed throughout a day that ended with two Kenyan teams lifting silverware.
Shujaa’s road to a fourth straight crown
Shujaa set the tone early in the pools, blanking Walukuba Rugby 55–0, outlasting UK Select 28–19 in an entertaining battle, then closing with a composed 20–0 victory over the French Renegades. Those results reflected a squad in rhythm, with Patrick Odongo and Nygel Amaitsa striking in sync, and finishers across the roster turning territory into points with clinical efficiency.
The quarterfinal against Nyati underlined just how ruthless the hosts could be. Chrissant Ojwang powered over to open the scoring, Amaitsa added the extras, and the floodgates opened. George Ooro’s craft set up Dennis Abukuse, who then struck again after the break, before Floyd Wabwire, Odongo and Festus Shiasi dotted down to complete a 40–0 statement. Amaitsa’s boot stayed true, and Shujaa marched into the last four with a swagger that felt earned.
The semifinal against Zimbabwe was a different kind of test, decided by nerve and execution in the decisive moments. Odongo landed the opener, Festus Shiasi sliced through for the second, and when Zimbabwe replied with a converted try, Shujaa steadied themselves. George Ooro restored the cushion, Zimbabwe clawed back, then a brilliant run by Amaitsa pushed Kenya ahead 22–19 before Vincent Onyala sealed it late with a try and conversion. It was a 29–19 victory that showcased composure under pressure and the big-play instincts of Kenya’s senior men.
In the final, Shogun Rugby struck first with a converted try that hushed the crowd. Shujaa absorbed the blow, pressed through the pace of Amaitsa, and pounced when Shogun went down to six men. Amaitsa crossed to level it 7–7 at the interval, and the second half turned into a grind of defensive stands and small margins. Head coach Kevin Wambua’s changes proved decisive, with Ojwang replacing Shiasi and Wabwire coming in for Odongo. Wabwire delivered the vital finish, and with the conversion good, Shujaa clung to a 14–7 lead until South African referee Christo Erasmus blew for full time. The moment that followed was pure release, a surge of joy as the men celebrated their fourth consecutive Safari 7s title.
“We’re under pressure to defend our title, but pressure is good, it pushes us to perform better. We’ve played good games so far, and we’re grateful to reach the quarters. We’re ready to defend the title,” Patrick Odongo said earlier in the tournament, his words becoming prophecy by Sunday evening.
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Morans announce the future with grit
Kenya’s second side kept raising the bar with each outing, using the tournament to both compete and discover who could carry the jersey next. The Morans took down ReUnion 24–0, handled Apache 28–10, then outclassed Zimbabwe 27–7 in the pools. The quarterfinal brought drama, as David Nyangige’s opener and a Rayvon Ambale try had them ahead, only for UK Select to rally. With Morans briefly down to six after Elvis Olukusi was binned, Victor Mola muscled over for a crucial score despite appearing to injure his arm. The conversion stood, and Morans survived 21–19, a result that spoke to composure under fire.
The semifinal against Shogun turned on discipline and finishing. Shogun capitalized after Brian Mutua’s sin bin and built a lead with two converted tries. Ambale’s response sparked belief, and Mola crossed again late to make it 14–12, but the missed conversion proved costly as Morans were edged by the narrowest of margins. They responded exactly as contenders should, beating Zimbabwe 19–12 for bronze behind a John Okoth brace and a Mutua strike straight from the restart. Even Zimbabwe’s late tries through Tavonga Ablant and Dion Kumalo could not derail a Kenyan side that showed the country’s depth is real and rising fast.
Lionesses reclaim their crown
On the women’s side, the Lionesses rediscovered their peak with a steady build that culminated in a tense final. They dispatched Mwamba Select 24–5 in the quarterfinals, then edged Shogun Rugby 12–10 in the semis, a result that signaled a team capable of squeezing tight minutes with poise. In the showpiece against Uganda Lady Cranes, Edith Nariaka struck first for Kenya with a well-converted try, but Uganda replied through Comfort Angaika and then Suzan Adong just before halftime for a 10–7 lead. With the pressure rising, Janet Okello delivered the decisive second-half try, converted to restore the Lionesses’ advantage, and they held firm despite finishing the last 90 seconds with six on the pitch. The 14–10 win returned the Safari 7s title to Nairobi and felt like a statement of resurgence.
The triumph followed a clear plan. Acting head coach Simon Odongo had named a balanced Lionesses squad led by Sheila Chajira and vice-captain Freshia Awino, blending experience from figures like Okello and Naomi Amuguni with new faces such as Charity Nillah, Faith Achieng, and Marvel Laura Oswago. The Cubs gained crucial exposure too, captained by Ann Njeri and peppered with debutants, reflecting a development pipeline that feeds the senior setup with purposeful intent.
Depth and purpose behind Kenya’s selections
Shujaa arrived with co-captains George Ooro and Samuel Asati fronting a squad rich in balance and speed. The roster featured finishers like Dennis Abukuse, line breakers like Odongo and Amaitsa, and impact men such as Wabwire and Ojwang, while KCB’s Festus Shiasi gave the hosts trusted go-forward. Across the divide, the Morans group under captain John Okoth included exciting newcomers like Ambale, Victor Mola and others, all of whom showed they were ready for bigger stages with calm execution when it mattered.
“This year’s Safari7s is not just about showcasing talent, but about building depth and testing combinations as we prepare for bigger challenges ahead. The blend of experience and debutants gives us balance, and the home fans can expect a feast of rugby,” head coach Kevin Wambua said after unveiling the squads.
Group stage storylines that set the tone
Friday’s early action stamped intent across the contenders. Morans blanked ReUnion 24–0, Zimbabwe overpowered Apache 33–17, and Shogun shaded KCB 17–14. When the lights went out later, Saturday became a sprint day, but Shujaa weathered it, hammering Walukuba 55–0, edging UK Select 28–19, then shutting out the French Renegades 20–0. The French regrouped to beat Walukuba 38–21, and KCB rebounded from their Shogun loss to thump Uganda 40–12, proof that the National Sevens Circuit champions were far from done at the Safari 7s.
Elsewhere, Zimbabwe kept stacking wins with a 26–19 result over ReUnion, while Shogun continued to look well-drilled with a 26–12 victory over Nyati. By the time Sunday’s brackets crystallized, it was clear that the local sides were setting the pace, with visiting teams like Zimbabwe and the French Renegades supplying the kind of resistance that gives a tournament its edge and credibility.
Key results at a glance
- Men quarterfinals, Shogun 31–5 French Renegades, Morans 21–19 UK Select, KCB 10–19 Zimbabwe, Shujaa 40–0 Nyati,
- Men semifinals, Shogun 14–12 Morans, Shujaa 29–19 Zimbabwe,
- Men final, Shujaa 14–7 Shogun Rugby.
- Women quarterfinals, Uganda 34–0 Cubs, Shogun 17–12 Tunisia, Lionesses 24–5 Mwamba Select,
- Women semifinals, Uganda Lady Cranes 17–12 Costa Blanca, Kenya Lionesses 12–10 Shogun,
- Women final, Uganda 10–14 Kenya.
There was more for local fans to cheer as well. KCB, champions of the 2025 National Sevens Circuit, closed strongly to claim fifth with a 19–17 win over UK Select, a tight playoff that echoed how small the margins are at this level and how valuable each minute becomes when hardware is on the line. It capped a weekend where depth across Kenyan rugby showed up, and supporters got a compelling reminder of the standards required to stay at the front of the pack and finish the job.
What this means for Kenyan sevens
For Shujaa, a fourth straight Safari 7s title is more than a trophy. It reinforces a winning habit, the belief that late-game decisions and execution under stress can carry a team through the tightest of contests. For the Morans, taking bronze after a heartbreak semifinal paints a vivid picture of a production line that is brave, fast and already making match-winning plays against seasoned opposition with fearless intent.
For the Lionesses, the return to the summit came through balance and resolve. Their semifinal poise and final resilience against Uganda, especially while finishing a player down, spoke to standards that have been set, lost, and reclaimed. The Cubs’ involvement, with a host of debutants, ensures that lessons from the main stage flow down the pipeline, then back up again when opportunity knocks. That cycle is how programs sustain excellence over time and keep refreshing the core of leaders who will be trusted under the brightest lights.
The emotion behind the results
Few images captured the weekend better than the post-final scene, as the Lionesses sprinted onto the pitch to celebrate with Shujaa. It was a snapshot of a rugby nation honoring both the grind and the joy, together. Earlier, the silence for Warren Abrahams offered a reminder that sport carries a heartbeat beyond the scoreboard, uniting rivals and teammates alike in shared respect and gratitude. By the final whistle, the roars returned, a chorus celebrating Kenyan rugby’s present and its future, all in one surging moment.
Final thought
Shujaa had to withstand pressure in all its forms to stay champions, and the Lionesses had to wrest control back from familiar rivals to be crowned. Both did it their way, with conviction, and both did it at home. The 2025 Safari 7s felt like Nairobi at its best, resilient on Friday night, relentless through Saturday, and resplendent on Sunday when silverware glinted in the evening light.
