Kenya suffered heartbreak in the final of the 2025 Singapore 7s, losing 12-21 to Fiji after a spirited battle at the Singapore National Stadium in what was a rematch of the 2016 showdown.
The Shujaas had earlier secured their place in the final by battling past Spain in a tense semifinal clash.
The match against Spain, a hard-fought encounter, ended with Kenya narrowly edging the Spaniards 12-5, sending the team into a highly anticipated showdown with Fiji.
The final started positively for Kenya, turning a penalty against them to their favour to score the first try, ensuring they went into halftime leading 7-0.
Buoyed by the lead against a formidable Fiji side, Kenya was undone in the second half as their opponents responded quickly, with Vuiviawa Naduvalo speeding down the flank to level matters.
From there, momentum shifted Fiji's way, with the rugby giants turning the game on its head by capitalising on another penalty to win a scrum. Naduvalo completed his brace, putting Fiji ahead 14-7.
Fiji's dominance became more apparent as the match progressed, with another talisman - Alusio Vakadranu - extending his nation's lead at the expense of a spirited Kenyan side through a well-executed try to give the Pacific Islanders a 21-7 lead.
Kenya's unrelenting efforts paid off, with William Mwanji scoring a try to make bring the scores to 12-21. Fiji held on for the victory, effectively denying Kenya a fairytale final and a replication of their 2016 heroics.
Shujaa's journey to the final began on Saturday, April 5 , when they beat Ireland 17-7, before following up that performance with a 10-7 win against France to top Group B.
But perhaps Kevin ‘Bling’ Wambua's side's most memorable performance during the tournament came against Spain, in a tense semi-final clash on Sunday marked by resolute and discplined performances from the Shujaas.
The opening try against the Spaniards was scored by Patrick Odongo with Nygel Amaitsa slotting a conversion to give Shujaa a 7-0 lead two minutes in. Kenya's ticket to the final was all but confirmed after Spain lost Francisco Cosculluela through a red card, with Odongo securing his second try of the match.
Spain managed to score a consolation, capitalising on a rare Kenyan error to ensure the clash ended 12-5 to Wambua's side.
