The Kenya Lionesses displayed remarkable prowess in the Rugby Africa 7s/Olympic qualifiers held in Tunisia, securing a flawless record on day one and earning their spot in the competition’s knockout stage.
With an eye on Olympic qualification, the Lionesses are set to face their neighbours, the Uganda Lady Cranes, in the semi-final, scheduled for Sunday at 1:06 pm EAT.
Kenya Lionesses possible final opponents
In the first semi-final, South Africa will square off against Zambia in a match set for 12:44 EAT.
Kenya Lionesses Janet Okello in a past action. Photo Courtesy/ Spain Rugby
South Africa dominated pool A, securing maximum points by winning all their matches on Saturday, positioning themselves favourably for the competition’s final stage.
Uganda clinched second place in the pool, while Tunisia and Zimbabwe finished third and fourth, respectively.
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In Pool B, the Kenya Lionesses exhibited an unstoppable performance, winning all their matches and accumulating nine points.
A remarkable 20-17 victory over Madagascar in the last pool game ensured the Kenyan team’s qualification for the knockout stage without a single loss during the preliminary phase.
Results of the first day of olympic qualifiers Womens Sevens 2024 from Group B.#roadtoparis2024 #rugbyafrique pic.twitter.com/bAnUN0yTuK
— Rugby Afrique (@RugbyAfrique) October 14, 2023
Despite conceding the first points, Kenya made a resounding comeback, with Sinaida Mokaya’s try leveling the score at 5-5. Stellah Wafula’s second try gave the Lionesses a 10-5 lead.
Kenya Lionesses run
In the second half, Madagascar scored two tries and a conversion, threatening Kenya’s lead, but a crucial try by Judith Juma averted an imminent defeat.
The Lionesses continued their impressive run with a 41-0 victory over Ghana in their second pool match, following a 27-0 opening win over Zambia.
Kenya Lionesses duo celebrate. Photo Courtesy/KRU
Sharon Auma’s try provided the Lionesses with an early five-point lead, and Stellah Wafula quickly added another try, showcasing their dominance. Auma’s exceptional performance included a brace, and Janet Okello contributed a fifth try.
In the second half, the Lionesses continued to shine, adding 12 more points to their tally. A combination between Okello and Auma led to their sixth try, and another five-pointer was added by Terryu Ayesa, sealing the Kenyan team’s 41-0 triumph in the second pool game.
Results of the first day of olympic qualifiers Womens Sevens 2024 from Group A.#roadtoparis2024 #rugbyafrique pic.twitter.com/x4yVY83ZCR
— Rugby Afrique (@RugbyAfrique) October 14, 2023
