Kenya Lionesses have increased their hopes of qualifying for the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup to be hosted in Australia by thrashing Uganda Lady Cranes 49-0.
In a dominant display at the Stade Makis in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Kenya Lionesses needed 19 minutes to make the first try through Natasha Emali to mark the beginning of the onslaught.
Kenya Lionesses came to the game determined, knowing that a win would remove any obstacles ahead of the decisive match of South Africa Lady Boks, who top the round robin tournament as they face Madagascar.
Unstoppable Kenya Lionesses
Lady Cranes showed a fighting spirit since they conceded the first try till the end of the match, but it was nothing to the well-practised Kenya Lionesses’ defence drills as they failed to make a single try.
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A major source of concern, despite the dominant display by the Kenyans, was the fact that no Kenyan player was able to convert after all the tries they made, except one earlier in the second half after they were awarded a penalty after a Ugandan foul.
Sheila Chajira, Faith Livoi and Noleen Khaleyi all scored tries in the first half for Kenya Lionesses to end the first half with the scores at 25-0.
Naomi Amuguni scored in the second half, with Stella Wafula scoring a brace to secure the win. Kenya further pressed the Uganda defence line with a big difference in the final scoreline the new target for the lionesses.
The Lady Cranes’ line-out issues were visible from kick-off, limiting their ability to launch effective attacks. Despite moments of resilience, such as their scrum efforts, they couldn’t respond with points.
The Lady Cranes were without key players like Samiya Ayikoru, and debutants like Sarah Nakafeero and Mastula Namboozo struggled to make an impact against a seasoned Kenyan side with 12 returnees from their 2023 Elgon Cup rout.
Despite the shutout, players like Bushira Namutebi and Janat Nandudu showed flashes of potential, but Uganda’s set-piece struggles and lack of attacking cohesion limited their threat.
A second-place finish in the tournament remains possible, depending on point differentials, as South Africa leads with a +55-differential compared to Kenya’s improved standing.
Future Plans
This East African derby, part of a storied rivalry dating back to the 2006 Elgon Cup, carried extra weight as a pride match. For Uganda, the focus remains on building consistency to compete with top-tier teams.
In November 2023, Lionesses delivered a resounding 87-3 victory over Lady Cranes, retaining the Elgon Cup title with a dominant performance.
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If South Africa wins against Madagascar, they will have secured a spot in the 2025 WXV 2 tournament, while the runners-up Kenya, are positioned to compete in WXV 3, typically held in September/October.
Coach Dennis Mwanja has said his team will use the 2025 tournament as a foundation to prepare for future Africa Women’s Cup tournaments and other qualifiers for 2029.
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