Kenya Lionesses coach admits to selection headache ahead of Africa Women’s 7s
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 06.11.25. | 14:43
The 2025 edition carries added importance, serving as the African qualifier for the 2026 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, with only the tournament winner securing the coveted slot
Kenya Lionesses interim coach Simon Odongo has admitted that selecting his final 12-player squad for the upcoming Africa Women’s Sevens tournament will be one of his toughest tasks yet.
The continental showpiece is set for Saturday, 15 to Sunday, 16 November at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.
The dilemma stems from the Lionesses’ exceptional depth and performance at the recent Safari Sevens, where Kenya fielded two sides: the Lionesses and their feeder team, the Cubs, both of which impressed on home soil.
The senior side clinched the title after a hard-fought 14-10 victory over Uganda Lady Cranes, while the Cubs finished a commendable fifth.
“Coming off the Safari 7s, the ladies did really well. We had set our targets to take it one game at a time, and it reached a point where you could see their hunger and will to win,” Odongo reflected.
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He revealed that the Safari Sevens provided a valuable testing ground for returning players such as Janet Okello, who had been out for a year, and Freshia Awino and Christabel Lindo, both of whom were recovering from injuries sustained during last year’s Africa Cup in Madagascar.
“At the Safari 7s, we were testing different combinations because some players were coming back from long layoffs.
It was more about giving them game time, rebuilding confidence, and identifying a strong core group that can compete consistently,” he explained.
With the Africa Women’s Sevens now around the corner, Odongo admits his selection headache is real.
“Right now, as we prepare for the Africa Cup, the ladies look sharp. It is actually tough to name a final squad of 12, considering how well they performed at the Safari 7s, where we lifted the title, and how the Cubs impressed too. Everyone is putting their hand up for selection,” he said.
The Lionesses have been drawn in Pool B alongside Ghana and the Ivory Coast, with their opener against Ghana set to rekindle memories of last year’s group stage meeting in Accra, where Kenya cruised to a 41-0 victory.
Back in 2024, the ladies narrowly missed out on continental glory after a 12-7 loss to South Africa in the final.
They had gone unbeaten through the group stages and semifinals, a consistency Odongo hopes his charges will build upon this year as they aim to reclaim the African crown last won in 2018.
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The 2025 edition carries added importance, serving as the African qualifier for the 2026 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, with only the tournament winner securing the coveted slot.
In other pools, 12-time champions South Africa headline Pool A alongside Zimbabwe and Mauritius, while Uganda, runners-up at the Safari Sevens, lead Pool C with Zambia and Burkina Faso. Madagascar, Tunisia, and Egypt complete Pool D.
2025 Africa Women’s 7s Pools:
Pool A: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mauritius
Pool B: Kenya, Ghana, Ivory Coast
Pool C: Uganda, Zambia, Burkina Faso
Pool D: Madagascar, Tunisia, Egypt
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