Kenya Lionesses defeated Uganda Lady Cranes 47-0 to claim their second win of the Rugby Africa Women’s cup 2025 in a match staged at Stade Makis in Antananarivo.
The Lionesses will now await for the result for pitting South Africa and Madagascar with the hope the SA stumbles.
Kenya Lionesses start
Both teams started slowly coupled with a lot of handling errors. But it was Kenya Lionesses who settled their nerves early drawing first blood through Natasha Emali off the back of a rolling maul. Conversion attempt by Sinaida Mokaya went wide as Lionesses led 5-0.
Sheila Chajira got the second try for Lionesses after she brilliantly controlled the ball at the tail of the scrum to dot down under the posts. Mokaya failed to add the extras.
Moments later, Faith Livoi would amend for the handling errors early on to get her name on the score sheet after a successful pick and go. Livoi would then play a key role in Kenya’s fourth try after she made a line break near Lady Cranes’ 22m, beating a couple of defenders before being brought down just before the try line. Noleen Khaleyi would then pick and go to score, extending Lionesses’ lead to 20-0. Conversion attempt by Sinaida Mokaya was unsuccessful.
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In the second half, Kenya Lionesses picked up from where they left as they added four more tries and a penalty try to claim the win. Stella Wafula got a brace with Naomi Amuguni and scrum-half Edith Nariaka going over once.
First scores in the second half came off a penalty try after Lady Cranes brought down Kenya’s maul illegally. Moments later, individual brilliance by Naomi Amuguni saw her capitalise on Uganda’s lapse of concentration in defence as she made a quick tap, side-stepped two markers before diving over.
Kenya Lionesses counter
Stella Wafula went over for her first try after she was unleashed in space by Maureen Muritu. A brilliant counter-attack try by Edith Nariaka saw the Lionesses cross the 40-point mark. The winds continued to prevent Kenya from adding extra points off the boot as conversion attempt by Grace Okulu went wide.
Stella Wafula would then get Lionesses’ final try after she did well to evade two markers before diving over in the corner to give Lionesses their last try of the match.
