Kenya Lionesses’ Janet Okello in action against South Africa during their Group D match of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series at Estadio Santa Laura, Chile on August 12 2022. [World Rugby]
Janet Okello scored a hat-trick of tries as Kenya Lionesses kicked off their 2025 Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens campaign on the front foot after thrashing Ivory Coast 44-0 at RFUEA Grounds on Saturday afternoon.
The Safari Sevens champions were keen to begin their attempt to dethrone record champions South Africa on a bright start and also impress their home crowd as hosts, a goal they achieved thanks to brilliant play from Okello.
Ivory Coast had kicked off their campaign with a 57-0 defeat to Ghana in their opener and needed to avoid defeat against the hosts to stand a chance of making the playoffs.
Okello broke the deadlock after selling a pair of wheels down the left wing before adding a second on the opposite side of the field moments later for an early 10-0 lead, as the two conversions slipped wide.
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Lionesses captain Sheila Chajira powered over the line to stretch the lead to 15-0 before Okello grabbed her hat trick heading to the break as Kenya led comfortably 20-0.
In the final half, Freshia Awino sliced through the defence to score, followed shortly by scrum-half Edith Nariaka, extending the advantage to 32–0.
Faith Livoi then bulldozed her way over for 39–0 before Kenya sealed the dominant 44–0 win with a final five-pointer.
At the same time, defending champions South Africa recorded the biggest win of the round, thrashing Mauritius 68–0.
Maria Tshiremba opened the scoring before Simamkele Namba sprinted down the right to double the lead to 12–0. Tshiremba then completed her brace, pushing the score to 19–0, before Nadine Roos added another for a 26–0 advantage.
Namba also bagged her second as the Cecil Afrika-coached side went into the break at 33–0.
In the second half, Ayanda Malinga, Vianca Boer (who scored twice), and Patience Mokone joined the scoreboard as South Africa cruised to a 68–0 victory.
Uganda also enjoyed a strong outing, securing a 50–0 win over Burkina Faso to boost their chances of advancing to the quarterfinals.
Other results saw Tunisia beat Egypt 22-0, Zambia school Burkina Faso 54-0 and Zimbabwe pamper Mauritius 29-7. Madagascar also beat Egypt 31-5.
Rugby Africa Women’s 7s Results
Tunisia 22-0 Egypt
Zambia 54-0 Burkina Faso
Ghana 57-0 Ivory Coast
Zimbabwe 29-7 Mauritius
Madagascar 31-5 Egypt
Uganda 50-0 Burkina Faso
Kenya 44-0 Ivory Coast
South Africa 68-0 Mauritius.