Kenya Lionesses roar past Madagascar in Women’s Africa Cup opener

The Kenya Lionesses kicked off their 2025 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup campaign with an impressive 28-5 win over Madagascar at the Stade Makis in Antananarivo, Madagascar, giving their World Cup dream a powerful boost and avenging last year’s painful 29-22 defeat to the same team.

From the very first whistle, Kenya dominated play with strong ball possession and relentless pressure on the Malagasy defense.

Their efforts paid off in the 25th minute when Phoebe Akinyi broke through to score the opening try, which was successfully converted by Sinaida Nyachio to make it 7-0.

Madagascar responded just before halftime with a try from Hanitriniana Mamy, narrowing the score to 7-5. But Kenya quickly bounced back, with Sheila Wafula crossing the try line after a well-coordinated offensive move, extending the lead to 12-5 at the break.

In the second half, the Lionesses continued to control the game and scored two more tries to seal a 28-5 victory.

Speaking after the match, head coach Simon Odongo praised his players’ performance and growth.

“We wanted to show we’ve learned from last year. The girls executed the plan perfectly.”

Captain Enid Ouma added, “This win means a lot to us. It’s not just revenge, it’s motivation. We’re now focused on our next match, which we know will be tough.”

Kenya now turns their attention to a crucial match against South Africa on June 11. The Springbok women, who have already qualified for the World Cup via the 2024 edition, showed their strength by thrashing Uganda 62-7 in their opener.

With only one direct qualification spot available through this tournament, every match is critical. A win against the reigning champions would not only make a huge statement for the Lionesses but also bring them within reach of a historic World Cup spot.