Fiji Claims Revenge with Thrilling Victory over Shujaa in Dramatic Singapore 7s Final

In a thrilling and emotionally charged final at the Singapore 7s, Fiji avenged their painful 2016 defeat by overcoming Kenya 21-12 in the Main Cup final. For the Fijians, the win was not just about lifting the trophy—it was about settling an old score and reasserting their dominance on the world stage. On the other hand, for Kenya’s Shujaa, it marked a bittersweet return to the top table of international sevens, reaching their first Main Cup final since the Canada 7s in 2021.

Coached by Kevin ‘Bling’ Wambua, Kenya came into the match with an impressive defensive record, having not conceded a single point in the first half throughout the weekend—a stat they proudly maintained against Fiji despite the final result. Wambua made a few surprising tactical decisions before kickoff, resting key players like lead try scorer Patrick Odongo and Jonas Kubu, the latter of whom was facing his birth nation for the first time. Odongo, reportedly nursing a minor injury, was kept on the bench as a precaution.

The match started with promise for Kenya, as they effectively neutralized Fiji’s explosive style early on. Fiji’s captain, Sevuloni Mocenacagi, was shown a yellow card for a dangerous leading elbow, giving Shujaa a man advantage. But a couple of unforced knock-ons from Kenya squandered the opportunity to build on that momentum.

With the clock winding down in the first half, Kenya finally broke through. Capitalizing on a Fijian error, Vincent Onyala delivered a brilliant in-field kick that Nygell Amaitsa chased down and converted, giving Shujaa a 7-0 lead at halftime.

Unfortunately for Kenya, the second half told a different story. Fiji regrouped, tightened their defense, and turned up the pace, scoring three well-crafted tries to swing the match in their favor. Shujaa managed one more try late in the game, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Fiji from sealing their revenge with a deserved 21-12 win. Despite the heartbreak, Kenya’s performance signaled a strong resurgence and hinted at a promising future for the team.