Newly appointed Nigeria coach, Bolu Fagborun, exuded much confidence heading into the encounter; his charges left no margin for permutations going into the decisive clash on Sunday.

“I’ve been really impressed by the attitude and determination shown by this group of women. We have some exciting players who will be encouraged to express themselves. Well done to all the management, chair, and sponsors from NRLA who’ve worked so hard to ensure that this group of women gets this opportunity to play international sports,” said Fagborun a few hours before his team made a bold statement on the road that made them favourites to qualify for the 2025 World Series as the MEA representatives.

The Nigeria Rugby League vice chairman, Ade Adebisi, said, “Our team has been working tirelessly in preparation for this pivotal moment in Nigerian Rugby League history. We are confident that the hard work, dedication, and passion of our players will shine through in this crucial encounter. We are all eagerly looking forward to the qualifiers and are hopeful for a successful outcome that will bring us one step closer to representing Nigeria on the world stage.”

However, a win for Kenya means the World Series berth will be determined on the aggregate score.

Their head coach, Dennish Ndinya, remains confident the East Africans can turn the table this time, saying, “Every match is a step toward our World Cup dreams. We plan to play with heart, focus, and unity. The world is watching, and Kenya are ready to make our mark.”

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