Kenya will join Germany, Canada and Hong Kong at the 2019 Rugby World Cup Repechage in Marseille, France after falling to a 53-28 defeat to Namibia in the Rugby Africa Gold Cup decider at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek in Saturday 18 August 2018.
Early pressure saw Namibia go for goal after Kenya were penalized, Cliven Loubser sure with his penalty attempt for a 3-0 lead five minutes into the game.
The Simbas would patiently build up, Willy Ambaka touching down at the corner with Darwin Mukidza converting for a 7-3 lead.
The Namibians would go in search of a response,attacking the Kenyans who held firm on defense. Chrysander Botha eventually jotted down a five pointer, Loubser converting this try and Louis van det Westhuizen’s effort for a 17-7 lead with ten of the first half to play.
Taking advantage of lost Kenyan possession on the attack, Namibian set up a counter attacking move that saw Loubser go over the chalk to put his side 22-7 up with precious little of the first half to play.
The Simbas huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow the Namibian house down, Center Referee Egon Seconds soon blowing his whistle for half time.
van der Westhuizen’s converted try after the restart took Namibian 29-7 up before Loubser’s penalty took the hosts 32-7 up.
Kenya’s Ambaka and Namibia’s Mahepisa Tjeriko would trade converted tries to bring up the score to 39-14 midway through the second half.
Ambaka would soon be sin binned, Namibia awarded a penalty try to go 46-14 up, their ticket to the 2019 Rugby World Cup all but assured.
Mukidza would beat the Namibian defence before offloading to replacement lock Malcolm Mamboleo Onsando who went over for his maiden test try, Mukidza adding the twos to make it 46-21.
Once again the Namibians scored with counter attacking rugby, pouncing on the loose ball as the Simbas chased the game, Botha landing his brace, Loubser with the conversion to take them 53-21 up.
The Simbas kept pressing,replacement scrum half Mohammed Omollo touching down with Mukidza converting to bring the score to 53-28, the eventual full time score.
