African women's rugby teams make history at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics

Kenya's girls' rugby sevens team made history at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, becoming the first African team to win rugby sevens gold at either the Olympic Games or the Youth Olympic Games. The team, led by coach Knight Otuoma, defeated Australia 17-12 in extra time to claim the gold medal. This victory marked Kenya's first medal in Dakar, the country's first Olympic gold in a team sport, and the first time a Kenyan rugby team had won gold at a major global championship.

The Kenyan team's journey to gold was not an easy one. They opened their campaign with a 12-5 win over China, then beat hosts Senegal 19-0 to reach the semi-finals with a pool match to spare. However, they lost their final pool match 17-5 to Australia, then beat Madagascar 15-5 in the semi-finals to earn another shot at the Australians. Coach Otuoma attributed the team's success to their all-female coaching staff, which allowed the players to feel comfortable sharing personal issues and building trust.

Otuoma's coaching staff played a crucial role in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each player. The squad was made up of students aged 16 and 17, many of whom came from families with limited means and relied on rugby scholarships to stay in school. The coach had to find out what each player could do beyond their usual position, and trained them until everything went well. This approach paid off, as the team was able to come from behind and win the gold medal.

The Kenyan team's captain, Zain Hido, said that the team's motivation came from their backgrounds and the difficulties they had faced in their lives. "We did not need any motivation from the coach because we knew this could be a potentially life-changing moment," she said. Mitchelle Chemtai, who scored the winning try, said that the victory was a dream come true, and that it had made her parents emotional.

Madagascar also had a milestone to celebrate, as they won bronze at the tournament. The team's only defeat came against Kenya in the semi-finals, but they went on to beat Czechia 26-10 to claim the bronze medal. This marked Madagascar's first medal at either the Olympic Games or the Youth Olympic Games.

Madagascar captain Tracy Ftiavananomenjanahary said that the bronze medal rewarded the time and effort her team had put into rugby while keeping up with school. The team's players had to balance their training with their studies, but their hard work paid off in the end. The bronze medal was a historic moment for Madagascar's rugby team.

The success of Kenya and Madagascar's women's rugby teams has raised hopes for a change in fortunes for women's rugby in Africa. The Kenyan team has called for equal investment and recognition, saying that they want to be treated equally, if not better, because they are the first Kenyan team to win an Olympic gold medal.

Key points

• Kenya's girls' rugby sevens team won gold at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, becoming the first African team to win rugby sevens gold at either the Olympic Games or the Youth Olympic Games.
• Madagascar's women's rugby team won bronze at the tournament, marking the country's first medal at either the Olympic Games or the Youth Olympic Games.
• The success of the Kenyan and Madagascar teams has raised hopes for a change in fortunes for women's rugby in Africa.