Kenya Lionesses Fall 14‑5 to Spain, Eye Top‑Four Finish
Sports Updated: 16 February 2026 00:19 EAT
Kenya Lionesses lose to Spain to end Nairobi Sevens on a low
The Kenya Lionesses wrapped up their 2026 HSBC SVNS Women’s Division leg in Nairobi with a 14‑5 loss to Spain at Nyayo National Stadium, leaving them to fight for a top-four spot and a place in the World SVNS Championship finals. The defeat capped a challenging two-day tournament, with the home side struggling to find consistency against a strong European opponent.
Kenya started brightly when Freshia Oduor scored an early try in the second minute, giving the Lionesses a brief 5‑0 lead. However, Spain responded before halftime, with Abril Camacho Ruiz scoring and a successful conversion putting the visitors ahead 7‑5 at the break.
In the second half, Spain extended their advantage through a converted try by Denisse Gortazar, stretching the score to 14‑5. Despite several attacking moves in the closing minutes, Kenya could not breach the Spanish defence again, allowing the visitors to secure a comfortable win.
Earlier in the tournament, the Lionesses suffered a narrow 5‑0 loss to Argentina, conceding an early try that they could not overturn. These early setbacks highlighted ongoing challenges with match starts and defensive cohesion.
On the first day, Kenya had a mixed set of results. They recorded a 15‑12 comeback victory over Brazil, demonstrating their potential, but fell 15‑12 to China and 12‑10 to South Africa, underscoring the tight margins in the Division Two tournament.
The HSBC SVNS series uses a points-based round-robin system across multiple legs. Kenya’s focus now shifts to the remaining legs in Montevideo, Uruguay, and São Paulo, Brazil, where accumulating points will be critical to securing a top-four finish and qualifying for the World Championship Series.
Coach Simon Odongo highlighted the need for stronger starts, improved discipline, and consistent execution in the next matches. The team aims to refine their strategies, particularly in defence and set-piece execution, to compete effectively against other top teams in the series.
With Argentina claiming the women’s title in Nairobi, Kenya must regroup quickly. The Lionesses’ campaign continues as they battle for a top-four slot, keeping their World SVNS Championship finals ambitions alive despite a tough opening leg at home.
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FELIX MAKONA
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