Double delight as Shujaa and Lionesses clinch Safari 7s titles in Nairobi
By Kenneth Mwenda, October 12, 2025Kenya’s national rugby sevens teams, Shujaa and the Lionesses, delivered a memorable day for home fans after both sides lifted the 2025 Safari 7s titles at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
The Lionesses started the day in fine style, reclaiming the women’s crown with a 14-10 win over the Uganda Lady Cranes in a tense final. Later, Shujaa sealed a fourth consecutive men’s title after edging out Shogun Rugby 14-7 in another gripping contest.
It was a proud afternoon for the home fans, who celebrated a double victory that underlined Kenya’s dominance in regional rugby.
Lionesses reclaim the crown
The Lionesses wasted no time making their intentions clear. Within the opening minute, they forced a strong maul that set up a swift move to the right flank. Edith Nariaka broke through the Ugandan defence to score the opening try, and Sinaida Mokaya added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
Uganda hit back through Comfort Anganyika, who found space on the wing to touch down, narrowing the gap to 7-5. The Lady Cranes kept up the pressure, and just before the break, Grace Nabagalla scored in the corner to send them into halftime with a 10-7 advantage.
After the restart, the Lionesses showed determination. A well-earned penalty provided an attacking platform, and Janet Okello powered over the line for Kenya’s second try. Mokaya’s conversion restored their lead at 14-10.
Despite going a player down, the Simon Odongo-coached side defended with discipline, holding off Uganda’s late surge to secure the win. The result saw the Lionesses reclaim the Safari 7s title, dethroning the Costa Blanca Barbarians, who had won it last year.
Their road to the final had been equally impressive. They brushed aside Mwamba Select 24-5 in the quarterfinals before narrowly beating Shogun 12-10 in the semis. The Lady Cranes, meanwhile, had stunned the Costa Blanca side 17-12 to reach the final.
Shujaa complete four-peat
In the men’s category, Shujaa maintained their dominance with a hard-fought 14-7 victory over Shogun Rugby to claim their 14th Safari 7s title.
The visitors, formerly known as Samurai, struck early through Anton Legorburu, with Francesco Cosculluela converting to give them a 7-0 lead. But Shujaa, under coach Kevin Wambua, quickly settled into rhythm. A scrum penalty deep in Shogun’s half gave them the opening they needed. Playmaker Samwel Asati produced a clever assist to Nygel Amaitsa, who powered through to level the game at 7-7 just before halftime.
The second half turned into a battle of patience and precision. Both sides defended resolutely, with few clear scoring chances. As the clock ran down, it looked like the match would head into extra time. But with 11 seconds left, Shujaa found their moment.
Vincent Onyala broke down the right flank and offloaded to substitute Floyd Wabwire, who sprinted past two defenders to score the winning try under the posts. Mokaya converted to seal the 14-7 win and spark wild celebrations from the home crowd.
The victory completed Shujaa’s remarkable run of four straight Safari 7s titles, following their wins in 2021, 2023, and 2024.
Shujaa had to dig deep earlier in the day to reach the final. They came from behind to beat Zimbabwe 29-19 in the semifinals after trailing 19-10. Patrick Odongo, George Ooro, and Nygel Amaitsa were among the scorers in a spirited comeback that thrilled fans.
Shogun, on their part, edged Kenya Morans 14-12 in the other semifinal to set up another final showdown with Shujaa, the third in as many years.
Final results:
- Women’s final: Kenya Lionesses 14-10 Uganda Lady Cranes
- Men’s final: Shujaa 14-7 Shogun Rugby