Rugby
Lionesses Settle for Second in Africa Cup as South Africa Retains Title
The Kenyan national women’s rugby 7s team, the Lionesses, finished as runners-up at the Africa Cup in Accra, Ghana, following a close 19-10 loss to South Africa in Sunday’s final.
Stella Wafula got Kenya off to a promising start with a try in the second minute. However, South Africa quickly responded, leveling the score through Ayanga Malinga. A reckless tackle saw Malinga sent to the sin bin, but Kenya couldn’t capitalize on the advantage, and the teams went into halftime tied.
In the eighth minute, Sharon Auma’s impressive run through the South African defense gave Kenya a second try, briefly reclaiming the lead. Yet, South Africa’s Catha Jacobs responded in the ninth minute, and another try in the dying seconds secured their title defense.
The Lionesses reached the final after a dominant 48-0 victory over hosts Ghana in the quarterfinals and a 19-0 win over Uganda in the semis. With their second-place finish, Kenya has qualified for the upcoming Challenger Series, offering them another opportunity to join the World Rugby Series.