The Kenya Lionesses marked International Women’s Day in style, securing a dominant 17-0 win against South Africa in the second leg of the Challenger Series at Athlone Stadium, Cape Town, on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
Kenya took an early lead in the first half when Naomi Amuguni evaded her defender to score the opening try, giving the Lionesses a 5-0 advantage. Sinaida Mokaya’s conversion attempt was off target, but the team maintained their lead heading into halftime.
The second half saw the Lionesses maintain their attacking momentum while keeping the Springbok Women under pressure. Captain Grace Okulu kicked deep into South Africa’s territory at the restart, forcing an error from winger Ayanda Malenga, who knocked on inside their 22-meter line.
Both teams grappled with ball-handling errors, but Kenya proved more clinical in attack. Off a scrum near South Africa’s try line, Mokaya linked up with the experienced Sheila Chajira, who swiftly offloaded the ball to winger Sharon Auma. Auma’s blistering pace proved too much for the South African defense as she raced to score under the posts. Mokaya converted, extending Kenya’s lead to 12-0 with three minutes remaining.
Head coach Denis Mwanja then introduced Freshia Oduor, who made an instant impact by scoring Kenya’s final try in the corner. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but the Lionesses sealed a commanding 17-0 victory.
To reach the final, Kenya had defeated Colombia 12-5 in the semifinals. In the group stage, they edged out Uganda 10-5 in a golden point thriller and overcame Belgium 17-5.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Coach Mwanja acknowledged the challenges faced during the tournament.
“Playing against Uganda and Colombia was tough, and our girls looked a bit unsettled in the semifinal. Against Colombia, our focus was on maintaining possession and making the most of our chances. In the final, I told them to leave it all on the pitch,” said Mwanja.
He also emphasized the significance of defeating South Africa.
“We lost to South Africa in Tunisia 2023 and again in Ghana 2024, so this victory is poetic justice for us. The girls believed in themselves, and they delivered. We’ll enjoy this moment before resuming training ahead of the next Challenger Series leg in Poland,” he added.
With this win, the Kenya Lionesses now top the Challenger Series standings with 40 points from the two Cape Town tournaments
