Kenya Lionesses secure place in the Challenger Series despite falling short in Africa Rugby 7s final to South Africa

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Kenya Lionesses secure place in the Challenger Series despite falling short in Africa Rugby 7s final to South Africa

Stephen Awino 07:00 - 11.11.2024

The Kenya Lionesses earned a place in the Challenger Series by finishing second in the Women's Africa Rugby Sevens in Accra, Ghana.

The Kenya women’s rugby 7s team, the Lionesses, concluded their Africa Cup journey with a commendable second-place finish, following a closely fought 19-10 loss to South Africa in the final on Sunday in Accra, Ghana.

Despite falling short in their quest to dethrone the defending champions, the Lionesses left an impressive mark on the tournament.

The Lionesses started strong, making a bold statement with an early lead that signaled their intent to challenge South Africa’s dominance.

However, South Africa responded swiftly, scoring two tries, including a decisive one in the dying moments of the match, ultimately securing their title defense.

The Kenyan team’s path to the final was nothing short of dominant as they overpowered host nation Ghana with a 48-0 shutout in the quarterfinals.

They maintained their momentum by defeating Uganda 19-0 in the semifinals, underscoring their strength in the East Africa.

Day 1 of the tournament had seen the side secure a hat-trick of wins their pool B matches where they had been grouped with hosts Ghana, Madagascar and Mauritius.

By finishing as runners-up, the Lionesses have earned a spot in the upcoming Challenger Series, offering them another opportunity to push toward qualification for the prestigious World Rugby Sevens Series.