Dorothy Owusu-Ansah Leads Ghana’s Rugby Eagles as African Nations Gear Up for 2026 Women’s Sevens Championship

The stage is set for an exciting battle for continental supremacy as captains from across Africa prepare to lead their respective nations into the 2026 Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens Championship, scheduled for November 7–8 at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya.

With the countdown complete, 11 African nations are preparing for two days of high-intensity rugby, with the continental title and a coveted qualification place in the World Rugby HSBC SVNS Division 3 competition at stake.

Under the official Rugby Africa tagline, “Leaders Ready for the Challenge!”, the tournament will bring together some of the continent’s finest female rugby talents, with team captains expected to provide the leadership, determination and experience needed to guide their countries through the demanding competition.

Captains Leading the Continental Challenge

Ghana will be represented by the Rugby Eagles Women’s Team, led by captain Dorothy Owusu-Ansah, who will spearhead the country’s campaign as the West African nation prepares to compete against some of the continent’s strongest sides.

The Ghanaian captain will be looking to inspire her teammates and guide the Rugby Eagles through a challenging Pool B campaign alongside hosts Kenya and Tunisia. The competition presents an important opportunity for Ghana to showcase its growing presence in women’s rugby and make a strong statement on the continental stage.

Hosts Kenya will be led by experienced co-captains Sheila Chajira and Stella Wafula, who will carry the responsibility of guiding the Kenya Lionesses in front of their home supporters.

The Lionesses head into the championship with considerable confidence after successfully defending their Safari Sevens title with a 22–5 victory over Uganda in the final. Having finished runners-up at the previous Africa Women’s Sevens, the hosts will be determined to turn their home advantage into continental glory.

South Africa’s Springbok Women’s Sevens ‘A’ will be captained by Vianca Boer, who returns from a lengthy injury layoff to lead a relatively young and developing squad.

Boer will be expected to provide valuable experience as the defending African champions seek another strong performance against Pool A opponents Zambia, Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

Uganda’s Lady Cranes will be led by returning captain Peace Lekuru, who is back in the squad after resting during the domestic sevens series.

Lekuru will be supported by vice-captain Tina Akello as Uganda pursue their ambition of securing a return to the international sevens stage. The Lady Cranes have been drawn in Pool C alongside Madagascar, Mauritius and Burkina Faso.

Zimbabwe’s Lady Cheetahs will enter the competition under the leadership of captain Nokutenda Shoriwa, with Tarren Munodaani serving as vice-captain.

The Zimbabwean side will face a demanding Pool A challenge against defending champions South Africa, Zambia and Rwanda.

Three Groups, One Continental Ambition

The 2026 championship will feature three competitive groups, with the participating nations drawn as follows:

POOL A

• South Africa
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
• Rwanda

POOL B

• Kenya
• Tunisia
• Ghana

POOL C

• Uganda
• Madagascar
• Mauritius
• Burkina Faso

Each group presents a different challenge, with the teams seeking to secure favourable positions ahead of the knockout stages.

A Major Opportunity for African Women’s Rugby

Beyond the continental title, the championship represents an important opportunity for African women’s rugby, particularly with qualification for the World Rugby HSBC SVNS Division 3 competition providing additional motivation.

The competition will also showcase the growing depth of women’s rugby across the continent, offering players an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities on a major international platform.

For Kenya, the challenge comes with the advantage of home support and recent success at the Safari Sevens. South Africa will be looking to maintain its continental dominance, while Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe and the other participating nations will be determined to make their mark.

As the captains prepare to lead their teams into action, the message is clear: leadership, teamwork, resilience and determination will be essential in the pursuit of African glory.

With the RFUEA Grounds ready to host two days of exciting rugby, the 2026 Africa Women’s Sevens promises to be a memorable celebration of women’s sport and the continued growth of rugby across Africa.