This archive report was first published on 10 October 2019.
Published on October 10, 2019, the Africa Sevens-cum-2020 Tokyo Olympic qualifying tournament kicked off on Saturday at the Mustapha Ben Jannet Stadium in Monastir, Tunisia.
Kenya Lionesses, who lost all their group matches at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, arrived in North Africa with confidence and a determination to defend their continental title.
With the South African Sports Confederation & Olympic Committee (SASCOC) ruling out sending a team to Japan for the global showpiece, Kenya stands a chance of making it to Tokyo even if they win this weekend's tournament.
Instead, South Africa's Springbok women's team will only compete to earn a ticket for the World Series Rugby Sevens Series qualifier event, as SASCOC's internal rules do not permit them to qualify for the Olympic Games directly from the African Regional Qualifier tournament.
Kenya Lionesses coach Felix Oloo is focused on retaining the title they won in Botswana last year, saying, 'We are not taking any chances because South Africa haven't 'pulled out.' That's a hoax. Those are dirty tricks we won't buy.'
Kenya headline Group A that has Senegal, Ghana, and Botswana, while South Africa will battle with Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. The first and second-placed teams will be able to participate for the World Rugby Sevens Series qualifier tournament.
