Shujaa to face Mike Friday's US in Vancouver 7s quarters

Nelson Oyoo

Kenya's Nelson Oyoo (front) is marked by an Ireland player during their Pool "C" match of the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2021.

Photo credit: Joan Pereruan | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • Innocent "Namcos" Simiyu's side will face Mike Friday's United States in the quarterfinal at 7.42pm on Sunday.
  • It will be the first time Kenya is facing US since the Tokyo Olympics where they lost to the Americans 19-14 in the group stage

Kenya Sevens blew away Spain and Mexico to reach the Cup quarterfinals at the Vancouver Sevens on Saturday night.

Shujaa stopped Spain 17-5 before dismantling Mexico 45-7 to sail through, despite losing to South Africa 33-14 in their last Pool "A" match Sunday morning.

Innocent "Namcos" Simiyu's side will face Mike Friday's United States in the quarterfinal at 7.42pm on Sunday.

It will be the first time Kenya is facing US since the Tokyo Olympics where they lost to the Americans 19-14 in the group stage.

Skipper Nelson Oyoo led the onslaught against Mexico to score alongside Levy Amunga, Alvin Otieno, Willy Ambaka, Derrick Keyoga, Timothy Mmasi and Alvin Marube with a try each.

Amunga and Daniel Taabu contributed five conversions between them with José Velasco Pons scoring Mexico's consolation.

Unconverted first half tries from Otieno and Ambaka saw Shujaa take a 10-0 lead at the interval against Spain.

Spain responded after the restart through Andres Arnau's unconverted effort but Kenya had the last laugh when Harold Anduvate scored under the posts with Taabu converting for victory.

Otieno and Marube were again on the scoresheet in the thriller against South Africa.

Muller du Plessis crossed for the Blitzbokke with just 35 seconds on the clock before further punishing Kenya with three more first-half tries and having Ambaka sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on.

Ryan Oosthuizen scored their second and Ronald Brown continued his fine form with two more. With all four tries being converted, South Africa led 28-0 at the interval.

Taabu put up a great turn of pace to put Otieno through for centre post try but JC Pretorius replied for South Africa.

Kenya scored another brilliant try down the left, with Marube supplying the finish on this occasion. Ambaka threatened to add another down the same flank but was stopped in his tracks by Darren Adonis and the match ended 33-14 to Blitzbokke.