The 2026 Africa Women’s Sevens Championship kicked off today at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya, with 11 countries competing for continental honours and Africa’s sole ticket to the World Rugby HSBC SVNS 3 tournament in Dubai.
However, Nigeria will be conspicuously absent from the competition, raising fresh concerns about the country’s dwindling presence in women’s international rugby.
The two-day championship, organised by Rugby Africa as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, will also serve as the African qualifying competition for the SVNS 3 tournament scheduled for November 27-29 in the United Arab Emirates.
The best-placed team, excluding defending champions South Africa, will represent Africa at the global SVNS 3 competition, which offers participating nations an opportunity to progress through World Rugby’s restructured international sevens system.
South Africa, the most successful country in the history of the championship with 13 titles, will be seeking to retain the crown it won last year after defeating hosts Kenya 22-0 in the final.
Kenya, who have won the title once in 2018, will enjoy home advantage, while Tunisia, champions in 2012, will also be among the contenders.
The 11 participating countries have been drawn into three pools, with Pool A comprising South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
Hosts Kenya, Tunisia and Ghana are in Pool B, while Uganda, Madagascar, Mauritius and Burkina Faso make up Pool C.
Nigeria’s absence is particularly significant given its population, growing domestic rugby activities and history of participation in women’s international competitions.
The country’s women’s national sevens team, the Lady Stallions, have struggled to maintain a consistent presence on the continental stage, largely missing important qualification opportunities in recent years.
Following World Rugby’s suspension of Nigeria in 2021 over government interference in the administration of the federation, the country missed key international competitions, including the Africa Women’s Cup and the Paris 2024 Olympic pre-qualifiers.
Although Nigeria returned to international competition in 2022, the Lady Stallions have yet to establish the consistency required to compete regularly among Africa’s leading women’s rugby nations.
The team participated in the 2024 African Games in Ghana but lost all its group matches, including its encounter against Ghana.
Nigeria’s women’s rugby team had previously demonstrated its potential when it finished second behind Tunisia at the North and West African Women’s Sevens Rugby Tournament held in Legon, Ghana, in 2009.
The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) had recognised the need to rebuild the women’s programme and included a bid to host the Africa Cup Women’s Sevens Regional Qualifier in Lagos/Ogun in its 2026 calendar.
The proposed competition was expected to provide an opportunity for the Lady Stallions to return to the continental ranking system and create a pathway back to the Africa Women’s Cup Sevens. However, the bid was not followed through.
The country’s men’s programme has also experienced challenges, finishing 10th out of 12 teams in the 2026 Africa Men’s Sevens Series, a three-place drop from its seventh-place finish in 2025.
Nigeria’s Black Stallions managed sixth position in the SVNS 3 qualifying leg in Kampala, Uganda, on September 27, recording two wins and three defeats, with 77 points scored and 108 conceded.
They defeated Ghana but lost 19-7 to Tunisia in the fifth-place playoff. Home-based player Daniel John was named the team’s Most Valuable Player.
Kenya finished top of the overall men’s standings, followed by Madagascar and South Africa A, while Nigeria placed 10th, ahead of Senegal and Ghana.
Zimbabwe secured Africa’s sole ticket to the 2027 HSBC SVNS 3 after winning the Uganda leg, defeating hosts Uganda 26-19 in the final.
A Pathway to the World Stage
The Africa Women’s Sevens Championship has grown considerably since its introduction in 2004, evolving from a relatively small regional competition into a major continental event and an important pathway to international rugby.
The competition provides opportunities for African nations to progress towards the Olympic Games, World Cup Sevens, Challenger Series and the newly structured SVNS Series.
World Rugby’s current international sevens structure comprises three divisions: SVNS 1, SVNS 2 and SVNS 3.
The SVNS 3 competition is a standalone global tournament involving eight teams from different continents. The African representative from Nairobi will have an opportunity to compete for promotion to SVNS 2 and subsequently SVNS 1.
Rugby Africa has identified the championship as an important platform for expanding women’s rugby across the continent, increasing participation and providing competitive opportunities for emerging rugby nations.
The 2026 edition features representation from different African regions, including North, East, West, Southern and Island Africa.
Day One matches will be broadcast live on Rugby Africa’s Facebook platform and RugbyPass TV.
For Nigeria, however, the absence of the Lady Stallions from Nairobi represents another missed opportunity to reconnect with the continent’s competitive women’s rugby structure.
Until the NRFF establishes a sustained programme that allows the team to compete regularly and regain its continental ranking, Nigeria risks remaining outside major African competitions while countries such as Mauritius, Rwanda and Burkina Faso continue to strengthen their presence on the international stage.
