Kenya Lionesses play Ivorians in quest for 2nd Africa title

A lot will be at stake when Kenya Lionesses go on the prowl in search of a second title in Africa Women’s Sevens Cup that starts today at the RFUEA grounds on Ngong Road in Nairobi.

It has been seven years since Kenya Lionesses last tasted continental glory. The team has reached the final of the tournament eight times.

This year, the championship marks 14 years since the first edition was held in 2006 in Kampala, Uganda, where Kenya finished third behind champions South Africa and losing finalists Uganda.

Home team Kenya is at pains to end a poor record against South Africa. Kenya Lionesses have played 11-time winners Lady Blitzboks of South Africa before in seven finals, losing all of them. Kenya won the title in 2018 when the team beat Uganda’s Lady Cranes 29-7 in the final of the annual tournament held in Gaborone, Botswana.

Kenya Lionesses, Lady Blitzboks and Lady Cranes head to this year’s tournament as the title favourites. Last year, Lady Blitzboks beat Lionesses 17-10 in the final, having stopped Lady Cranes 19-0 in the semi-finals in the tournament held in Accra, Ghana. In 2023, Kenya Lionesses lost to South Africa 12-7 in the final, having stopped Lady Cranes 27-0 in the semi-finals. Lady Blitzboks have won all the final matches they have played in, while Kenya Lionesses and Tunisia have registered one win each.

Meetings between Lionesses and their regional rivals Lady Cranes have always been a see-saw affair. For instance, Lady Cranes secured a slim 15-12 victory over Kenya Lionesses in the 2023 Safari Sevens final held at the RFUEA Grounds, but the Lionesses hit back this year, beating Lady Cranes 14-10 in Safari Sevens final at Nyayo National Stadium.

Will history replicate itself this year when Kenya hosts the tournament for the second time since 2014, when the event was held at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos? On that occasion, the Lady Blitzboks beat Kenya Lionesses in the final 15-0 .

Kenya has had the upper hand against Lady Blitzboks in recent meetings, the Kenyans winning in two matches of the 2025 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.

Kenya Lionesses defeated South Africa 19-15 in the semi-final matches of the first leg of 2025 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series in Cape Town. The Lionesses went on to win the final match against Argentina 17-12.

The two teams met in the final of the second leg of the 2025 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series in Cape Town, where Kenyan again prevailed 17-0. 

In a decisive promotion and relegation play-off match staged in Los Angeles, Kenya Lionesses and Lady Blitzboks met in the quarter-finals, and Kenya prevailed 17-14.

“We hope to write a different script this time round, having only won one edition of the tournament. We have never beaten South Africa in Africa Cup, and we want to change that,” Kenya Lionesses captain Sheila Chagira said.

“We aren’t only focusing on Lady Blitzboks, but also on all our opponents. We will take it one game at a time. Our training has changed, and we now have better management of play and delivery,” Chagira said. Kenya boats experienced players in France-based Grace Okulu and Janet Okello, who is based in Japan.

Lady Blitzboks coach, legendary Cecil Afrika, hopes his team can remain undefeated in the tournament.

“The players showed energy during training sessions, first back in Stellenbosch, and during our altitude training in Pretoria this last week,” Afrika observed, adding that they are in control of their own destiny and are ready for any challenge. 

“There is massive pressure on us, and we all know what is at stake.”

South Africa’s kipper Nadine Roos, Zintle Mpupha, Byrhandré Dolf, and Ayanda Malinga were all in action at the recent Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, where the team reached the quarter-final stage for the first time.