Kenya Lionesses are the second-best women’s rugby 15s team in Africa.
Lionesses achieved the feat for the third time on Sunday after hammering arch rivals Uganda Lady Cranes 47-0 on the final day of the 2025 Women’s Rugby Africa Cup in Madagascar.
The win saw Kenya finish second in the round robin continental rugby competition held in Madagascar.
Kenya begun the tournament with an impressive 28-5 revenge win over Madagascar who had last year stunned them 29-22.
A narrow 19-12 defeat at the hands of champions South Africa derailed their title ambitions and even after a seven try victory over Uganda, they could not stop the Springbok women’s march towards a record fourth extending title.
In the match, Kenya’s forwards were thoroughly impressive in their dominance of set-pieces in the East African derby, their powerful pack laying down a huge marker in the first half.
The Lionesses forwards used the maul and scrum as an effective weapon, racing to a 20-0 first-half lead courtesy of tries from tight-head prop Natasha Emali, veteran number Sheila Chajira, flanker Naomi Amunni and inside-centre Faith Levoi.
Substitute Stellah Wafula scored twice after coming in on the wing, with replacement half-back Edith Nariaka also dotting down.
Heavyweight’s South Africa Springbok Women were crowned champions following their 61-17 win over the hosts.
The Springbok Women turned Antananarivo into a happy hunting ground, with this latest victory marking their third straight triumph in the Malagasy capital—and their fourth overall title in the tournament’s history.
Since the Africa Women’s Cup was first held in 2019, only South Africa has won every edition. The 2020–2022 tournaments weren’t officially staged.
Kenya finished second 2019 and 2023 but finished third last year. Their big win over Uganda over the weekend lifted Lionesses back to second after their silver win.
By Washington Onyango
