Heartbreak for Kenya Lionesses as ‘perfect’ South Africa bag Africa title
Freshia Odour (centre) of Kenya attempts to charge past Simamkele Namba and Patience Mokone of South Africa in the finals of Africa Women’s Sevens Cup at RFUEA ground in Nairobi on November 16, 2025.
What you need to know:
- South Africa turned on the style to win a record-extending 12th continental title at RFUEA grounds.
- Lady Blitzboks completed the tournament in a flawless fashion without conceding a single try.
Kenya’s quest for a maiden victory against South Africa’s Lady Blitzboks in Africa Women’s Sevens Cup came a cropper on Sunday, as South Africa turned on the style to win a record-extending 12th continental title at RFUEA grounds in Nairobi.
There was hope that Kenya Lionesses would beat their South African opponents in Africa Women’s Sevens Cup for the first time in two attempts on home soil, having previously outclassed Lady Blitzboks in the 2025 World Rugby Challenger Series, and in World Rugby Series promotion and relegation play-offs.
But Lady Blitzboks, coached by former South Africa sevens legend Cecil Afrika and bolstered by four players from the just concluded Women’s World Cup, proved well-polished in all facets of play.
South Africa women sevens rugby team celebrate after winning the Africa Women’s Sevens Cup at RFUEA ground in Nairobi on November 16, 2025.
Lady Blitzboks completed the tournament in a flawless fashion without conceding a single try. In fact, Kenya Lionesses only ventured into Lady Blitzboks’ 22 metres zone once in the second half.
The end result was a 22-0 victory for the Lady Blitzboks, who sealed their record 12th Africa Women’s Sevens Cup to qualify for the World Rugby Division III tournament scheduled for December in Dubai.
Earlier, Kenya Lionesses struggled to beat Uganda Lady Cranes 17-10 in the semi-finals, with Naomi Amuguni scoring the winning try for the Kenyan team. South Africa easily beat Madagascar 29-0.
Naomi Amuguni (centre) of Kenya evades a tackle from Peace Lekuru (left) of Uganda during the Africa Women’s Sevens Cup at RFUEA ground in Nairobi on November 16, 2025.
It was the second loss by Kenya Lionesses to Lady Blitzboks in the Africa Women’s Sevens Cup final, the Kenyan side having gone down 15-0 to South Africa in the final of the 2014 tournament held at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos.
The two teams were meeting in the final for the eighth time, with Kenya Lionesses eyeing their first win against the Lady Blitzboks in the tournament.
Should they win the Division III tournament scheduled for December in Dubai, the Lady Blitzboks will join Kenya Lionesses in World Rugby Division II tournament planned for February next year. Division II tournament is the pathway for the World Rugby Division I category.
A disappointed Kenya Lionesses skipper, Sheila Chagira, was graceful in defeat, acknowledging that the team crumbled in every facet of play to a suave Lady Blitzboks.
“We didn’t expect this result but it happens easily when you go off the track. Everything crumbled for us when we discarded our structure,” said Chagira.
South Africa women sevens rugby team celebrate after winning the Africa Women’s Sevens Cup at RFUEA ground in Nairobi on November 16, 2025.
She noted that Kenya failed to recycle their balls and spread play to the wing besides failing to keep possession.
“We made it easy for South Africa to defend and their physicality at their backline worked well for them since they were able to move the ball,” Chagira explained.
Kenya Lionesses head coach, Simon Odongo, said they knew the final match would be tough because South Africa needed nothing short of victory to qualify for the World Rugby Division III category.
Hungrier for the win
“That is why South Africa were hungrier for the win. We pick lessons from this, but it shouldn’t worry us much since we have already qualified for World Rugby Division Division II tournament. We were using this event to try out of different combinations,” Odongo said.
“Our plan is to pick up in February next year during the World Rugby II championship. We had a long season and we have just returned to work,” he said.
A Kenyan rugby fan cheers the Kenya Lionesses during a match against Ghana in the Africa Women’s Sevens Cup at RFUEA ground in Nairobi on November 15, 2025.
Meanwhile, coach Afrika said they had a plan after they failed to qualify for World Rugby Division II tournament, and were compelled to go through Division III in Dubai.
“We hope to succeed in Dubai and go to World Rugby Division Division II,” said Afrika, revealing that their tight defence did the trick against Kenya.
“It requires a good work ethic and that is why we really kept them out of our 22m,” he said.
The Lionesses defeated South Africa 19-15 in the semi-finals during the first leg of the 2025 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series in Cape Town. The Lionesses went on to win the final beating Argentina 17-12.
The two protagonists that have defined Africa’s women met in the final of the second leg of the 2025 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series in Cape Town where the Kenyans prevailed 17-0.
Come the decisive promotion and relegation play-off in Los Angeles, the Lionesses and Lady Blitzboks met in the quarter-finals and Kenya yet again prevailed 17-14.
