Kenya’s Rising Lionesses have made history after defeating Australia 17–12 in a dramatic sudden-death final to win the women’s rugby sevens gold medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The historic triumph marks Kenya’s first gold medal at the inaugural Dakar Youth Olympic Games and a major milestone for the country’s women’s rugby programme.
Playing at Stade Iba Mar Diop in Dakar, the Kenyan youngsters displayed remarkable resilience to overcome an Australian side that had beaten them 17–5 in their final pool match earlier in the competition.
The gold-medal showdown was fiercely contested, with Australia opening the scoring before Kenya captain Zain Hido crossed the try line to level the scores at 5–5 at half-time.
Australia regained the lead after the break, extending their advantage to 12–5 with a converted try.
However, the Rising Lionesses refused to give up, with Josephine Kerubo scoring Kenya’s second try before Diana Wanjiku added the conversion to restore parity at 12–12 and force the match into extra time.
Kenya eventually delivered the decisive blow in sudden death, crossing the try line to secure a memorable 17–12 victory and spark celebrations among the Kenyan contingent.
The victory capped an impressive campaign for the Rising Lionesses, who began their tournament with a 12–5 win over China before dispatching hosts Senegal 19–0.
Despite suffering a 17–5 defeat to Australia in their final pool encounter, Kenya bounced back strongly to defeat Madagascar 15–5 in the semi-finals.
Evarlyne Afande and Mitchel Mmboga, who scored twice, were instrumental in the semi-final victory that propelled Kenya into the final.
Their subsequent triumph over Australia completed a remarkable turnaround and secured the country’s maiden women’s rugby sevens gold medal at the Games.
The achievement carries added significance as Dakar 2026 marks the first time the Youth Olympic Games have been staged on African soil.
The Rising Lionesses’ success is a testament to the growing strength of women’s rugby in Kenya and the immense potential of the country’s emerging sporting talent.
Their historic achievement is expected to inspire more young girls to embrace rugby and pursue opportunities in competitive sport.
Kenya can now celebrate a new generation of champions whose determination, teamwork and fighting spirit have delivered a landmark moment for the country on the international stage.