Kenya will need to secure a nine-point win in Sunday’s rematch after falling 22-14 to Nigeria in the first-ever Women’s Rugby League World Cup qualifier held in Africa on Thursday afternoon at the NY Centre in Nairobi.

The winner on aggregate will go on to represent the continent in the inaugural 2025 World Series.

The hosts were down 12-0 at halftime but launched a second-half comeback, closing the gap to 16-14 after two quick tries from winger Merisha Negesia.

However, Nigeria’s outstanding loose forward Rachel Iliya sealed the victory for the Green Falcons with her second try of the game.

Nigeria women’s head coach Bolu Fagborun acknowledged Kenya’s strength but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to improve before the decisive rematch.

“It was tough, I knew there would be periods in the game when we’d have to dig deep and credit to Kenya, they stuck in the game. We’re only halfway there, we’ve got two training sessions before Sunday and we’re going to work on some things we’ve seen in this first game. I think we’ve got more points in us and we’re going to concentrate on what we did in defence in the first half,” Fagborun said.

In challenging windy conditions, Nigeria took control early on, with Blessing Aladeyelu scoring the first try by linking from fullback and stepping over the line, followed by Precious Ukwuom exploiting a gap after a penalty.

Both tries were converted by Blessing Umude, giving Nigeria a two-score lead at the break. Kenya struggled to complete their sets and were unable to respond before halftime.

The home side’s revival began with a try from centre Lewin Amazimbi, followed by two tries from Negesia in quick succession, either side of the hour mark.

Despite Kenya’s fightback, Rachel Iliya’s first try, which also came after a penalty, had already put Nigeria in a comfortable position.

Speaking after the match, Chairman, Nigeria Rugby League Association, Olawale Cole said, “We have prepared for this for so long. We are very happy that we won this first battle, but we expect the next one to be tougher than this. This is just the beginning, we have more to showcase,” Jimoh noted.

As Kenya looks to bounce back on Sunday, Nigeria is focused on securing their spot in the World Series. In the lead-up to the rematch, Nigeria Rugby League Chairman Abiodun Olawale pledged continued support for the team and celebrated their historic win. “We are thrilled the Nigerian Rugby League women’s team, the Green Falcons, have emerged victorious in Nairobi, defeating Kenya to win the Middle East and African Championship. This incredible win qualifies Nigeria to represent the entire region at the 2025 World Series for the World Cup qualifiers.”

“I would like to extend my congratulations to both teams for an outstanding performance. A special commendation goes to the Green Falcons for not only making Nigeria proud but for carrying the hopes of the Middle East and Africa forward onto the world stage. The ladies played a hard-fought match, showing tremendous dedication and resilience throughout their time in camp, resulting in a strong team performance.”

“While we celebrate this victory, the hard work continues. We now hold the dreams of the region as we prepare to take on the rest of the world. To achieve this, we need unwavering support from home and abroad.”

“We thank all our sponsors for their continued support, Alaro City, Headway, Aerial Robotix, Chappal Energy, Rainbow Academy. The Green Falcons victory will serve as an inspiration for the next generation of young women, motivating them to aim for greatness. As we look ahead, we are committed to further developing rugby across Nigeria and Africa, ensuring a bright future for the sport,” Olawale concluded.

Sunday’s rematch will determine which team will represent Africa and the Middle East in the 2025 World Series for the Rugby League World Cup qualifiers.