Kenya Lionesses Make History with Promotion to HSBC Division 2
The Kenya Lionesses have etched their names into the history books after securing a spot in the HSBC Division 2 for the first time ever. The achievement capped off a strong 2024–2025 season in the HSBC Challenger Series, where the team showed incredible growth, throughout the campaign.
The journey began in style for the Lionesses, who made a bold statement in the opening two legs of the Challenger Series held in South Africa. Dominating the field with clinical performances, the Lionesses topped the overall standings with 40 points, establishing themselves as serious contenders on the HSBC Challenger stage.
Their impressive performance earned them a place in the third leg of the series in Poland, where they continued their fine form. The Lionesses maintained consistency and once again finishing at the top — a result that saw them qualify for the Challenger Playoffs in Los Angeles.
However, the campaign in LA got off to a rough start. The Lionesses lost two of their three pool matches, managing just one win. Despite this, they finished third in their pool — enough to send them into the playoff final.
The final pit them against their continental rivals, South Africa. South Africa held a slim 14-10 lead as the clock ticked down, until Freshia broke through the South African defense in the last seconds of the match, scoring a try. With the conversion successfully slotted, the Lionesses edged ahead 17-14 at full time.
“The victory was not only emotional but historic, I’m so overwhelmed with the results. The girls really worked hard for this, and we will use Division 2 as a platform to get to the HSBC international stage. We are just beginning.”— Grace, Captain, Kenya Lionesses.
