Shujaa, Lionesses set for season-defining Montevideo HSBC test

With only three tournaments on the calendar, the stakes are rising quickly for both Shujaa and the Lionesses.

The Montevideo stop sits at the heart of the campaign and teams must finish inside the top four overall after the final leg in São Paulo to secure a place in the season-ending HSBC SVNS World Championship Series, where promotion back to the elite circuit is decided.

After finishing third in the opening leg in Nairobi, Shujaa travel to South America determined to maintain their momentum.

Their campaign begins with a tough opening pool featuring the United States, Canada , and Belgium .

The side then shifts into crossover matches on Sunday against Germany and hosts Uruguay.

Germany arrive with confidence after clinching the Nairobi title, while the United States also impressed in the opening leg.

For Shujaa, the Montevideo outing will test more than just physical readiness. Head coach Kevin Wambua has emphasized discipline and sharper decision-making after costly mental lapses denied the team a place in the Nairobi final.

For the Lionesses, the second leg carries even greater urgency.

The Kenyan women finished fifth in Nairobi and currently sit outside the critical top-four bracket. Their opening fixtures in Montevideo will pit them against China , hosts Argentina , and Spain on the opening day.

Sunday brings another stern examination with matches against South Africa and Brazil.

Argentina lead the standings after winning the Nairobi leg, leaving the Lionesses with little room for error.

With the final leg set for São Paulo, Montevideo represents the tournament’s turning point. Victories over direct rivals such as Germany in the men’s draw or South Africa in the women’s competition could dramatically reshape the standings.