- Kenya Lionesses head into day two of the HSBC SVNS 2 in Sao Paulo sitting top of the table, aiming to maintain their position to seal a spot in the World Championship Series.
- They secured two wins from three matches on Saturday at Estadio Nicolau Alayon.
- After falling to Argentina, they bounced back to defeat South Africa and also claimed a win against Spain, setting up crucial clashes against China and Brazil on day two.
It all goes down on Sunday, March 29 for the national women’s side, the Kenya Lionesses, in Brazil, where they hold the upper hand at the HSBC SVNS 2 Sao Paulo leg as they push to qualify for the World Championship Series next month.
The permutations for the fourth and final qualification slot are within reach for Simon Odongo’s charges, who will be hoping to build on their impressive Saturday performance.
The Kenya Lionesses ended day one in Sao Paulo sitting at the top of the table, where they picked up two crucial wins from the three matches they played at the Estadio Nicolau Alayon on Saturday evening.
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They kicked off the day on the wrong foot, losing 19–12 to overall leaders Argentina. In the second match, they managed to pull themselves together, grabbing a vital victory against fellow African rivals South Africa, beating them 14–5.
Janet Okello gave the Lionesses the lead, while Freshia Odour sealed the win with a late try. Sinada Nyachio made all her conversions count, boosting the team’s morale heading into the third clash.
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In their final game of the day, they faced Spain, who were on a two-match winning streak. The Lionesses rose to the occasion, securing a well-deserved 24–17 win to go top of the table, leapfrogging Spain, who have already booked their spot in the World Championship.
In this encounter, Janet Okello managed to score two tries, while Freshia Odour and Naomi Amungi each added one. Nyachio converted two of them setting the tone for a demanding second day on Sunday.
HSBC SVNS 2 2026: Kenya Lionesses World Championship hopes shine bright
The decisive second day will see the Kenya Lionesses first take on China, another side battling for the fourth-place finish, at 6:06 pm EAT. They will then wrap up their campaign with a clash against hosts Brazil at 10:02 pm EAT.
These two matches are hugely important in their journey, and they will be hoping to throw everything into them to boost their chances of sealing a qualification spot which is the gateway to the HSBC SVNS 1 next season.
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To maintain their top position and strengthen their qualification hopes, the Lionesses will need to win both matches on Sunday.
They must also overcome China, who sit fourth overall with 28 points, six ahead of Kenya’s 22, and hope China finishes lower in this round.
On top of that, the Lionesses will have to beat Brazil to finish above them. Brazil, also on 22 points, are third at home, and finishing above Kenya would knock Kenya out of the race.
Therefore, Odongo’s side heads into the final day of the Series 2 leg knowing that victories over both China and Brazil could secure them a coveted Championship spot and keep their dream alive.
In the women’s category, Argentina, South Africa, and Spain have already qualified.
On the men’s side, Shujaa became the third side to seal a spot after Canada and Germany’s wins on Saturday, joining Germany and the USA Eagles.
Kenya 7s Schedule & Results – HSBC SVNS 2 in Sao Paulo, Brazil (March 28–29, 2026)
Kick-off in East African Time (EAT)
Kenya Lionesses
Saturday, March 28
- Kenya Lionesses 12-19 Argentina
- Kenya Lionesses 14-5 South Africa
- Kenya Lionesses 24-17 Spain
Sunday, March 29
- Kenya Lionesses vs China – 6:06 PM
- Kenya Lionesses vs Brazil – 10:02 PM
Shujaa
Saturday, March 28
- Shujaa 38-7 Germany
- Shujaa 12-14 Belgium
- Shujaa 40-0 Canada
Sunday, March 29
- Shujaa vs USA – 5:44 PM
- Shujaa vs Uruguay – 8:34 PM