The Nigeria women’s rugby team, the Green Falcons, have edged Kenya on a technicality to become the first-ever MEA women’s team to qualify for the Rugby League World Cup Series, The PUNCH reports.
Nigeria and Kenya competed in the first-ever rugby league Women’s World Cup qualifier in Africa, with the two-legged tie hosted by Kenya Rugby League at the NYS Headquarters in Nairobi.
In a very even, fiercely contested series, Nigeria won the first match 22-14 on Thursday, September 19, 2024, before Kenya bounced back to win the second match 8-0 on Sunday, September 22, 2024, as both sides tied on 22–22 points. Both sides also scored four tries apiece throughout the series. However, Nigeria kicked 3 goals to 2 by Kenya, who also kicked 2 field goals. So Nigeria proceeded as Africa’s sole representative to the inaugural 2025 World Series.
Nigeria are the sole Middle East and African representative in the World Series, where they will vie for a ticket to the 2026 Women’s Rugby World Cup against the Americas winner, Asia-Pacific runners-up, and Ireland or Greece (European group runners-up playoff winner).
The winner of the 2025 World Series qualifies for the IRL Women’s World Cup 2026 alongside England, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Wales, and France.
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