UPHILL TASK

Lionesses up against Argentina and Samoa in Olympic repechage

The Lionesses missed the automatic qualification slot for Africa when they lost to South Africa 12-7 in September last year in Tunisia in the Africa Cup Sevens final.

In Summary

•Dennis Mwanja 's charges will seek to qualify for the Olympics for the third time after participating in Rio in 2016 and 2021 in Tokyo.

•Before that, the Lionesses will seek to finish in the top four of the Challenger Sevens Series which concludes in Krakow, Poland next month.

Kenya Lionesses' Judith Auma in action against China in a past match
Kenya Lionesses' Judith Auma in action against China in a past match
Image: FILE

Kenya Lionesses Sevens outfit have been pitted against a tricky Argentina, Papua New Guinea and Samoa in Pool 'A' of the Olympic repechage scheduled for June in Monaco. 

Pool 'B' will see Uganda will tackle Hong Kong, Paraguay,  and Jamaica.

'China headline Pool 'C' and will be up against Poland, Czech Republic, and Mexico.

From the 12 teams entered for the event, only one team will punch a ticket to the Summer Games slated for Paris France between July and August.

So far,  New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and the USA have qualified for the event as the top four qualifiers through the 2023 World Series, alongside hosts France.

They have been joined by Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, Fiji and Japan as regional qualification tournament winners in the women’s tournament.

The Lionesses missed the automatic qualification slot for Africa when they lost to South Africa 12-7 in September last year in Tunisia in the Africa Cup Sevens final.

Dennis Mwanja 's charges will seek to qualify for the Olympics for the third time after participating in Rio in 2016 and 2021 in Tokyo.

Speaking on the draw, head coach Dennis Mwanja said they are keen on qualification to the Paris Games.

" It will be quite competitive. The girls were there in 2016 and 2021 after qualifying as Africa's representatives.  This will be a new challenge for us but I believe the girls are up to the task,” said Mwanja.

Before that, the Lionesses will seek to finish in the top four of the Challenger Sevens Series which concludes in Krakow, Poland next month.

The team is currently fifth on the log with 24 points and will be targeting to win the tournament to qualify as one of the top four teams for the promotion/relegation playoff in Madrid in June. Kenya are in Pool C, where they face Belgium, Mexico and hosts Poland.