Kenya vs Ivory Coast: Preview, Team News, Time and Where To Watch as Lionesses Begin Africa Women's Sevens Cup Title Quest

Kenya Lionesses go on the prowl today as they begin their campaign for a second title in the Africa Women’s Sevens Cup, starting with a crucial match against Côte d’Ivoire at the RFUEA grounds on Ngong Road in Nairobi.

 A lot will be at stake for the home team, as it has been seven long years since the Lionesses last tasted continental glory. Despite reaching the final of the prestigious tournament eight times, their quest for a second championship kicks off on home soil.

This year, the championship marks 14 years since the first edition was held in 2006 in Kampala, Uganda, where Kenya finished third. The Lionesses' sole victory came in 2018 when the team memorably beat Uganda’s Lady Cranes 29-7 in the final of the tournament held in Gaborone, Botswana.

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The home team is also at pains to end a poor record against 11-time winners, the Lady Blitzboks of South Africa. The Kenya Lionesses have played them in seven previous finals and have lost all of them. This painful history includes recent heartbreaks: last year in Accra, Ghana, the Lady Blitzboks won 17-10, and in 2023, they edged out the Lionesses 12-7 in the final.

“We hope to write a different script this time round, having only won one edition of the tournament. We have never beaten South Africa in Africa Cup, and we want to change that,” Kenya Lionesses captain Sheila Chagira said as per Nation.

While South Africa remains the primary rival, the Lionesses must also navigate a strong field that includes title favourites Uganda. 

Meetings between the Lionesses and their regional rivals, the Lady Cranes, have always been a see-saw affair. For instance, the Lady Cranes secured a slim 15-12 victory over the Lionesses in the 2023 Safari Sevens final, but the Lionesses hit back this year, beating them 14-10 in the Safari Sevens final at Nyayo National Stadium.

Will history replicate itself this year when Kenya hosts the tournament for the second time since 2014? On that occasion, the Lady Blitzboks beat Kenya Lionesses 15-0 in the final. However, recent form suggests the tide may be turning. Kenya has had the upper hand against the Lady Blitzboks in their most recent, high-stakes meetings during the 2025 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.

The Lionesses defeated South Africa 19-15 in the semi-final matches of the first leg of the Challenger Series in Cape Town, en route to winning the final against Argentina. The two teams met again in the final of the second leg, also in Cape Town, where Kenya prevailed with a dominant 17-0 victory. In a decisive promotion and relegation play-off match staged in Los Angeles, the Lionesses and Lady Blitzboks met in the quarter-finals, and Kenya again prevailed 17-14.

Captain Chagira believes the team is ready for all comers, not just their main rivals.

 “We aren’t only focusing on Lady Blitzboks, but also on all our opponents. We will take it one game at a time. Our training has changed, and we now have better management of play and delivery,” Chagira said.

The squad is bolstered by experienced overseas-based players, including France-based Grace Okulu and Janet Okello, who plays in Japan.

South Africa, however, is not travelling to Nairobi to concede their crown and their legendary coach, Cecil Afrika, hopes his team can remain undefeated in the tournament. 

“The players showed energy during training sessions, first back in Stellenbosch, and during our altitude training in Pretoria this last week,” Afrika observed, adding that they are in control of their own destiny. 

“There is massive pressure on us, and we all know what is at stake.”

The Lady Blitzboks' squad is brimming with top-tier talent. Their skipper, Nadine Roos, along with Zintle Mpupha, Byrhandré Dolf, and Ayanda Malinga, were all in action at the recent Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, where the team reached the quarter-final stage for the first time.

The action kicks off today at the RFUEA Grounds. The Kenya Lionesses begin their campaign with a Pool B match against Côte d’Ivoire at 12:44 pm EAT.

 Fans who cannot make it to Ngong Road can stream the action live on the Rugby Africa Facebook page and on RugbyPass TV.