Kenya, Uganda rivalry to take centre stage in 2024 Elgon Cup
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Reading Time: 4min | Sat. 09.11.24. | 12:20
In their 43 meetings, Kenya has won 27 matches, Uganda has claimed 14 victories and two games have ended in draws.
On Saturday, 9 November, the RFUEA Grounds will throw its doors open to an extraordinary event; the 2024 Elgon Cup. This showdown pits Kenya Simbas and Uganda Cranes.
This year’s edition marks the tournament’s return to Nairobi after COVID-19 disruptions. Nairobi last hosted the Elgon Cup on June 7, 2018, with the Simbas' most recent home games held at Mamboleo Grounds in 2019 and 2023.
.@RugbyCranes Captains run done ahead of the first leg of the Elgon Cup tommorrow at the RFUEA ground.
— Kenya Rugby (@OfficialKRU) November 8, 2024
Tag your squad and nab your tickets on https://t.co/8zyRl6KaT8 and come support your favourite team🥳🥳🏉.
📸@Fanakastudios#ElgonCup #SupportTheSimbas pic.twitter.com/EKX8l9qtCx
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Elgon Cup, named after Mount Elgon, which straddles the Kenya-Uganda border. The Cup is a two-legged, home-and-away series, with the aggregate winner lifting the trophy.
The first official Elgon Cup match between Kenya and Uganda occurred in Nairobi on July 31, 2004, where Kenya won 18-8.
However, Kenya and Uganda’s rugby rivalry dates back to May 24, 1958, when they first clashed in Kampala, with Kenya taking a 21-11 win. After a long break, they met again in 1997, when Kenya dominated 65-8 at RFUEA Grounds.
In their 43 meetings, Kenya has won 27 matches, Uganda has claimed 14 victories and two games have ended in draws. Kenya clinched the last Elgon Cup in Kisumu in November 2023 with a 20-13 win in the second leg, after narrowly losing the first leg 21-20.
Uganda holds a slight edge in the World Rugby rankings at 36th place, just above Kenya at 37th, with 49.38 points to Kenya’s 49.03.
Kenya Simbas’ Recent Form:
Jerome Paarwater's Simbas come into the match after a challenging Rugby Africa Cup campaign in mid-2024. They overcame Senegal in the quarterfinals but fell to Algeria in the semifinals (20-12) and to Namibia in the third-place playoff (38-22), causing a drop in their world ranking. Playing at RFUEA Grounds will offer the Simbas a familiar advantage.
Uganda Cranes’ recent performances:
The Uganda Cranes also had a mixed Rugby Africa Cup showing, preceded by a preparatory tour in South Africa. Despite a narrow 21-20 loss to Zimbabwe in the opener, Uganda defeated Burkina Faso 25-15 in the fifth-place semifinal and edged out Senegal 34-31 in the playoff. They aim to secure their first win on Kenyan soil since 2019, when they upset Kenya 17-13 at Mamboleo.
Previous Kenya Simbas-Uganda meetings
2023
– 11 Nov: Kenya 20-13 Uganda — Kenya won on aggregate
– 4 Nov: Uganda 21-20 Kenya
2022
– 2 July: Kenya 42-7 Uganda — Kenya won non-Elgon
2019
– 13 July: Uganda 5-16 Kenya — Kenya won on aggregate
– 22 Jun: Kenya 13-17 Uganda
2018
– 7 Jun: Kenya 38-22 Uganda — Kenya won
– 26 May: Uganda 16-34 Kenya — Kenya won
2017
– 24 Jun: Kenya 33-33 Uganda — Kenya won on aggregate
– 10 Jun: Uganda 15-23 Kenya — Kenya won
2016
– 30 Jul: Kenya 45-24 Uganda — Kenya won
– 4 Jun: Uganda 10-48 Kenya — Kenya won
2015
20 Jun Uganda 30-25 Kenya A -Uganda won on aggregate
13 Jun Kenya A 20-17 Uganda
2014
19 July: Kenya A 34-0 Uganda- Kenya won on aggregate
12 July: Uganda 21-14 Kenya A
2013
– 10 Jul: Uganda 11-51 Kenya — Non-Elgon Cup match
– 22 Jun: Uganda 13-19 Kenya — Kenya won on aggregate
– 15 Jun: Kenya 16-17 Uganda — Uganda won
2012
– 10 Jul: Kenya 19-20 Uganda — Non-Elgon Cup match
– 28 Apr: Kenya 12-0 Uganda — Uganda won on aggregate
– 21 Apr: Uganda 19-5 Kenya — Uganda won
2011
– 16 Jul: Uganda 32-18 Kenya — Kenya won on aggregate
– 9 Jul: Kenya 27-10 Uganda — Kenya won
2010
– 10 Jul: Kenya 21-5 Uganda — Kenya won on aggregate
– 3 Jul: Uganda 25-33 Kenya — Kenya won
2009
– 29 Aug: Uganda 18-13 Kenya — Kenya won on aggregate
– 15 Aug: Kenya 30-22 Uganda — Kenya won
2008
– 16 Aug: Kenya 39-20 Uganda — Kenya won on aggregate
– 24 May: Uganda 20-3 Kenya — Uganda won
2007
– 26 Sep: Uganda 24-12 Kenya — Non-Elgon Cup match
– 11 Aug: Kenya 35-15 Uganda — Kenya won on aggregate
– 26 May: Uganda 29-10 Kenya — Uganda won
2006
– 12 Aug: Kenya 20-22 Uganda — Uganda won on aggregate
– 13 May: Uganda 7-7 Kenya — Draw
2005
– 25 Jun: Uganda 5-8 Kenya — Kenya won
2004
– 31 Jul: Kenya 18-8 Uganda — Kenya won
2003
– 14 Jun: Uganda 21-22 Kenya
2002
– 5 Oct: Kenya 22-31 Uganda
– 21 Jul: Uganda 8-12 Kenya
2001
– 29 Sep: Kenya 44-17 Uganda
– 28 Jul: Kenya 12-9 Uganda
1997
– 23 Aug: Kenya 65-8 Uganda
1958
– 24 May: Uganda 11-21 Kenya
