South Africa underlined their dominance on the continent after shutting out the Kenya Lionesses 22–0 in the final of the Africa Women’s 7s on Sunday at the RFUEA Grounds, confirming yet another continental triumph and sealing qualification to next season’s SVNS Series Division Three.
The victory handed the Springbok Women their 12th African title. Both sides arrived in the decider with perfect records. Cecil Afrika’s charges had bulldozed their way through the tournament without allowing a single point, while the Lionesses buoyed by home support were dreaming of a second championship after their historic 2018 success.Kenya had fallen in the final seven times before, including the last two editions, and hoped this would finally be the year to overturn the script.
The early exchanges of the final were tense, tactical, and fiercely contested. Kenya defended with grit, matching South Africa’s tempo and physicality. However, momentum swung when star speedster Janet Okello was forced off with an injury, handing Edith Nariaka an unexpected early shift.
South Africa struck right at the buzzer of the opening half, with Shiniqwa Lamprecht slicing through the defensive line to plant the opening try. The successful conversion saw the visitors head into the break with a 7–0 advantage.
Springbok Women Shift Gears
After halftime, the South Africans moved into a higher gear. Only minutes into the half, skipper Nadine Roos engineered space out wide before setting up Simamkele Namba, who raced clear for their second try.
The Lionesses tried to claw back possession but were smothered by South Africa’s relentless pressure. Replacement forward Patience Mokone then muscled over the whitewash, stretching the lead to 17–0 and breaking Kenya’s resistance.
A last-gasp try sealed a comprehensive 22–0 win, completing a perfect tournament in which the champions kept a clean sheet throughout.
Uganda Secure Bronze
Earlier in the day, Uganda’s Lady Cranes delivered a convincing 33–12 victory over Madagascar to clinch third place, capping their campaign with an impressive podium finish.
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