Lionesses qualify for Olympics after Tunisia test
Kenya Lionesses qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics after reaching the Africa women sevens final at the Municipal Mustapha Ben Jannet Stadium in Monastir, Tunisia.
The second straight qualification by Kenya was in the offing after the side only needed to meet South Africa in the cup final to romp to the Olympics.
Lionesses join New Zealand, USA, England, Great Britain, Australia, Canada, Japan and Brazil in the 12-team competition slated for July 27-August 1.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee declined invitation to Tokyo 2020 like in 2015 leaving Kenya as top seeds for the single slot.
Irrespective of the final results, Kenya and South Africa booked the two tickets to compete in the 2020 HSBC Sevens Women’s qualifiers at the So Kon Po Recreation Grounds in the Cathay Pacific HSBC Hong Kong Sevens on April 3-5.
By virtue of reaching the cup semis, Madagascar and Tunisia earned two slots to the June 2020 repechage tournament where the final slot for Tokyo will be decided via the 12-team event.
On way their way to the finals, Lionesses had knocked out hosts Tunisia 19-0 in the cup semis, after sinking Zimbabwe 36-5 in the quarters.
The qualification determinant pitting Kenya and Tunisia in the semis was won courtesy of three tries and two conversions.
Cynthia Camilla scored first try to give Kenya a 7-0 lead after the conversion by Grace Adhiambo.
Celestine Masinde took a shot into Tunisian space to further the lead to 14-0 before a solo effort by Janet Okello saw the scoring machine punish Tunisia with a quick try on restart after the hosts were reduced to six players off a foul play on Okello in the last play.
The Lady Bokkes did not participate in the 2018 Africa Sevens and their return in Monastir, Tunisia this weekend was fuelled by hunger to reclaim the title they last won in 2018.
The previous qualifiers-cum-Africa Sevens was won by South Africa in 2015 but the slot to Rio 2016 was forfeited to Kenya despite Lionesses finishing second behind the Bokkes.
In 2019 edition, South Africa also registered comfortable scores against opponents on their way to the final.
The Bokkes beat Morocco 42-0 in the quarters and confirmed their Hong Kong Sevens participation after downing Madagascar 29-0 in the other semi-final.
Kenya relived day one of the 2018 continental events by not conceding a try and finishing the group play unbeaten when it mauled debuting Ghana 36-0, whitewashed Botswana 51-0 and closed the pool fixtures with a 36-0 win over Senegal.
Last season marked Kenya’s history in being the only other team apart from South Africa to win the women sevens title. Kenya won the 2018 continental cup by beating Uganda 29-7 in Gaborone, Botswana.
