Eric Wainaina’s song Daima Mkenya inspired Kenya Lionesses to a deserved but narrow win against South Africa in the semi-final of the opening leg of the 2025 World Rugby Challenger Series at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa on Sunday.

The win inspired Kenya Lionesses to beat Argentina 17-12 in the final.

About five months ago, South Africa women’s seven a side rugby team defeated Kenya Lionesses in Accra, Ghana to clinch the Rugby Africa title.

Since that defeat, Dennis Mwanja, the Kenya coach, has been planning how to beat a team that had also denied them a ticket to the 2024 Olympics. The venue was not a priority but Mwanja hinted that defeating South Africa at home in front of their own fans and at their backyard would be sweet. Mwanja does not talk much. His tone is always measured.

Third time lucky

On Sunday, Kenya faced South Africa for the third time in a major tournament, the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series. The venue was Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, which hosted the first tournament under a new format in which only the winners of the four pools qualified for the semi-final. 

South Africa did not drop a single point on the opening day beating Hong Kong China 36-0 and Czechia 26-0 in Pool A. Kenya topped Pool D by seeing off Samoa and Poland each time conceding one try.

Core status

South Africa who are keen to return to the core status appeared invincible. The scenes before the match gave a hint of what was expected in the match. Kenya’s huddle sought inspiration from Eric Wainaina’s Daima Mkenya rendition while the opposite camp’s huddle discussed strategy. 

The passion was undeniable and the underlying tension was evident since past results have been very close and could have gone either way. It is this scenario when Mwanja boldly predicted about beating South Africa in their backyard. The preparations had begun and there was no doubt that Kenya and South Africa would meet at some point during the Challenger Series. That day was on March 2, 2025 at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.

Heroes of the match

The heroes of this match were Freshia Oduor, Sharon Auma and Naomi Amuguni who scored a try each with Sinaida Nyachio slotting one conversion. Nadine Roos replied with two tries and Ayanda Malinga one. The script was completed because the men’s team, Shujaa also denied South Africa a direct qualification to the 2024 Olympics. Additionally, Shujaa also won the Challenger Series in Dubai.

But, Kenya Lionesses still had one more mountain to climb by playing Argentina in the final. In rugby, it is rare that the Kenya national anthem is played. The players felt a new emotion that inspired them to a 17-12 win over Argentina. Judith Okumu scored a brace and Grace Okulu one try against Argentina while Candela Delgado and Marianela Escalante replied for Argentina.

Top seeds

The dust has settled on the first tournament and Kenya will be the top seeds for the second tournament next weekend. 

In the men’s category, Chile defied all odds to beat Canada in the final while Germany beat Samoa in the play-off. 

Africa’s other representatives Uganda and Madagascar finished among the top eight and are poised to qualify among the top eight teams to proceed to the penultimate round in Poland in April. 

Sunday, March 2, 2025 Challenger Series Results

Men

Cup semi-finals: Chile 31 Samoa 14; Germany 19 Canada 24; Play-off: Samoa 14 Germany 19; Final: Canada 7 Chile 33. 

Fifth Place semi-final: Uganda 5 Portugal 47; Japan 26 Madagascar 28; Play-off: Portugal 22 Madagascar 19.

Seventh place play-off: Uganda 17 Japan 7.

Ninth place semi-final:  Tonga 43 Brazil 7; Georgia 0 Hong Kong China 29; Play-off: Tonga 19 Hong Kong China 21.

11th place play-off: Brazil 0 Georgia 34

Women

Cup semi-finals: Argentina 10 Colombia 5; South Africa 15 Kenya 19; Play-off: Colombia 0 South Africa 29; Final: Argentina 12 Kenya 17.

Fifth Place semi-final: Thailand 19 Uganda 17; Czechia 5 Poland 41; Play-off: Thailand 28 Poland 17.

Seventh place play-off: Uganda 19 Czechia 21.

Ninth place semi-final: Mexico 0 Belgium 48; Hong Kong China 29 Samoa 17; Play-off: Belgium 19 Hong Kong China 12.

Eleventh place play-off: Mexico 12 Samoa 31.

Results, Saturday, March 1, 2025

Men

Pool A: Germany, Japan, Georgia.

Japan 21 Georgia 19, Germany 31 Georgia 0, Germany 24 Japan 14.

Pool B: Chile, Tonga, Portugal

Tonga 17 Portugal 19, Chile 19 Portugal 17, Chile 24 Tonga 19.

Pool C: Samoa, Uganda, Brazil.

Uganda 24 Brazil 14, Samoa 19 Brazil 14, Samoa 32 Uganda.

Pool D: Hong Kong China, Madagascar, Canada.

Hong Kong China 19 Madagascar 21, Canada 38 Madagascar 0, Canada 21 Hong Kong China 12.

Pool A: South Africa, Czechia, Hong Kong China

Czechia 26 Hong Kong China 19, South Africa 36 Hong Kong China 0, South Africa 26 Czechia 0.

Pool B: Argentina, Thailand. Mexico

Thailand 41 Mexico 0, Argentina 60 Mexico 0, Argentina 22 Thailand 7.

Pool C: Belgium, Uganda, Colombia

Uganda 7 Colombia 24, Belgium 17 Colombia 22, Belgium 5 Uganda 29.

Pool D: Poland, Kenya, Samoa

Kenya 20 Samoa 5, Poland 31 Samoa 19, Poland 7 Kenya 29.