Second win for Lionesses in quest for Olympics qualification

Kenya 7s women's national team; Lionesses picked up from where they left off in their opening pool match against Zambia to humble West African Ghana 41-0 in their Africa Women's 7s second pool match played in Tunisia on Saturday 14 October, 2023.

This match was a repeat of the 2020 Rio Olympics qualifiers opening pool match where the Lionesses mauled Ghana 36-0 to emerge victorious.

Okello stars as Kenya Lionesses pounce on Zambia in Africa Women's 7s opener

The team that is coached by former Kenya 7s International Dennis Mwanja was coming from a 27-0 victory over Zambia in the opening pool match.

It was Sharon Auma who first registered her name on the scoresheet with a five-pointer that saw Mwanja's charges take an early lead.

Auma's first-minute try seemed to motivate the fierce Lionesses, and less than a minute later, Stellah Wafula was dancing through the worrying Ghanian defense to add another try to her name. The conversion was successful off Grace Okumu's boots.

The Lionesses, now more motivated than ever then managed a brace from high-flying Sharon Auma, before immensely experienced player Janet Okello touched down for their fifth try before referee George Selwood called for halftime to the relief of the panting Ghanaian ladies.

Mwanja's halftime talk seemed to have had an impact on the Lionesses who came in hot in the final half to score 12 more points that added the final nail to Ghana's coffin.

A support play from Janet Okello and Auma added Lionesses' sixth try, and the first for the final half to see Kenyans lead at 32-0.

The play was on, with Lionesses heaping pressure on Ghana, and when they eventually succumbed, Ayesa Terry was off with another five-pointer that signaled the end of the match. Full-time scores 41-0.

Lionesses are set to face Madagascar in their final pool match at 5:40pm.

The knockout stages are set for tomorrow, as the winner earns a direct qualification to the Paris 2024 Olympics.