The Uganda Lady Cranes are heading to Dubai with renewed confidence and bigger ambitions after securing their maiden Africa Women’s Sevens title.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsUganda will be among six women's teams competing at the HSBC SVNS 3 tournament scheduled from Friday, 26 to Sunday, 28 November during the Emirates Dubai 7s, where they will battle China, Mexico, Poland, Colombia and Samoa for promotion to SVNS 2.The tournament presents another opportunity for the Lady Cranes to demonstrate their growth, having ended 20 years of waiting for continental silverware with a commanding 33-0 victory over Tunisia in the Africa Women's Sevens final.Kenya Simbas turn to fellow South African coach after Jerome Paarwater's exitThe triumph marked Uganda's first Africa Women's Sevens crown and their first major 7s title since winning the Safari 7s in 2023.For head coach Charles Onen, the victory was the culmination of a lengthy journey marked by hard work, disappointments and several near misses."It has been a long journey. We have worked extremely hard, experienced several setbacks, and finished third on several occasions. ##NAJAVA_MECA_10105825##Those were very painful moments, but we picked ourselves up, kept working, and here we are today as African champions after a very tough tournament," Onen said.The Lady Cranes negotiated a demanding route to the continental crown, overcoming South Africa in the quarter-finals before eliminating hosts Kenya in the semi-finals to set up their final against Tunisia.Onen credited the team's mentality and consistency throughout the two-day competition, noting that the players understood the importance of approaching every fixture with the seriousness it deserved.Kenya Sevens star Kevin Wekesa invited to speak at important United Nations conference"The girls did exceptionally well over the two days. We faced South Africa and Kenya in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively, before reaching the final. We had the momentum, and it was important for us to approach every match with the seriousness it deserved. We achieved all the goals we had set, and we are extremely happy and proud of what we have accomplished," he added.Beyond ending their continental title drought, the victory represents a shift in the balance of women's rugby in Africa, where South Africa and Kenya have traditionally dominated the competition.##NAJAVA_MECA_10108054##Onen believes Uganda's breakthrough is evidence of the progress being made by other emerging rugby nations and a sign that the continent's competitive landscape is changing."It means a lot to us. We need to change the narrative because, for a long time, it has been a two-horse race between South Africa and Kenya. Other teams are growing and developing, and this victory shows that Uganda is not standing still. We are making progress," he said.Ibrahim Ayoo reveals next target after achieving centurion with Menengai OilersThe coach believes the achievement could also have a significant impact beyond the playing field, particularly in attracting investment and improving opportunities for women rugby players in Uganda.He pointed to the team's 2023 Safari 7s triumph as an important turning point, explaining that winning silverware had helped players secure better contracts and opened doors to new opportunities."Most of these girls had never won a major trophy before. We have been on a development journey, and their first taste of silverware came in 2023 when we won the Safari 7s.##NAJAVA_MECA_10108056##Winning brings opportunities. It opens doors to sponsorship, funding and better contracts. After that victory, several players began securing better contracts and enjoying improved opportunities," Onen explained.Dubai, however, will not be entirely unfamiliar territory for the Lady Cranes.Uganda first competed in Dubai in March 2009 during the inaugural Rugby World Cup Sevens. Their qualification for that tournament was historic.Dennis Ombachi offers solution to Kenya Sevens player contracts standoffThey subsequently featured in the Dubai 7s International Invitational in 2016 before making their official debut in the World Rugby Challenger Series in 2024 and returning in 2025.Their previous Challenger Series campaigns in Dubai offered valuable international exposure, with the team reaching the semi-finals in 2024 and finishing among the top four, earning a place in the subsequent competition in Uruguay.Onen believes those experiences have laid the foundation for a more competitive outfit, insisting that the side travelling to Dubai this month is a considerably different team from the one that previously arrived as newcomers.##NAJAVA_MECA_10108060##"Dubai was one of the tournaments where we went in as rookies, but the girls played with great excitement and determination. Through their hard work, we managed to reach the semi-finals, which was a very impressive achievement, and that earned us a place in Uruguay.This is where we belong, and we are ready for the next challenge. Dubai should expect a much better Uganda than the team they saw previously. We have grown, gained experience, and become a stronger side," he said.
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