Kenya Lionesses player Naomi Amuguni in a training session at the RFUEA ground/HANDOUTKenya Lionesses coach Simon Odongo faces a tough task in naming the final 13-man squad for the Africa Cup Sevens this weekend.
Odongo said the players have put their hands up in training, making it a delicate balancing act to find a cohesive and balanced squad for the two-day continental championships at the RFUEA Ground.
“We have had three solid weeks of training. Playing at the Safari Sevens has also given us a tough edge and prepared us for the tournament,” said Odongo, adding that competition for places is strong.
“We have players from the second-string side, the Cubs, who have shown their worth and resilience in training.”
The Lionesses have won the tournament once, in 2018, beating Uganda 29-7 in the final. They have, however, lost eight finals, seven of them to South Africa in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2023 and last year, when they fell 17-10 in Accra.
Odongo said playing at home gives the team their best chance to end the run of losses against South Africa.
“Remember, we beat them 17-12 in the Challenger Series in Los Angeles. We are practically evenly matched. It will come down to mental fortitude, execution over the two days and discipline without the ball,” he said.
They will take it one game at a time.
“The unpredictable nature of sevens means you cannot underestimate any opposition. We have analysed the teams in our pool and will take them seriously.”
He said winning the Safari Sevens, especially after beating Uganda 14-10 in the final, and victories over Tunisia and Zimbabwe, is a major psychological boost.
“If we face Uganda or Tunisia in the Africa Cup, we will be well prepared. I believe they, alongside South Africa, are the three biggest rivals.”
The Lionesses face Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire in Pool 'B'. Pool 'A' has South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius, while Uganda, Zambia and Burkina Faso are in Pool 'C'.
Madagascar, Tunisia and Egypt will compete in Pool D.
