Slow starts sink Kenya Lionesses in HSBC 7s Series opener

In the final game, Kenya got off to a bright start, with Freshia Oduor crossing for a try in the second minute. However, Spain struck back with Abril Camacho Ruiz and Denisse Gortazar scoring in the eighth minute, followed by converted tries from Silvia Morales and Carmen Miranda Miralles in the ninth.

Despite Kenya's early advantage, the Lionesses were unable to maintain momentum and fell short.

Out of five matches, Kenya recorded a single victory, a remarkable comeback against Brazil on their day one opener. Trailing 12-0 early in the game, the Lionesses fought back with tries from Stella Wafula in the 8th minute, Janet Okelo in the 9th minute, and Naomi Amuguni in the 12th minute to secure the win.

That performance highlighted the team's resilience, yet it also underscored a recurring challenge of conceding first in most matches that forced Kenya into a chase, leaving them with too little time to recover.

Coach Simon Odongo reflected on the tournament, saying, “It had been a tough tournament, but I think the ladies showed up today. Most of these ladies have not played in a sold-out stadium before," he said, adding that the team was nervous. 

The Lionesses will now be expected to shift focus on sharpening their starts and maintaining intensity from the first whistle as they prepare for the next legs of the series with a 2nd leg in Montevideo, Uruguay (March 21-22, 2026), and the third leg in Sao Paulo, Brazil (March 28-29, 2026) to turn potential into consistent performances on the international stage.