Kenya Lionesses squad named ahead of Rugby Africa tourney

The four-nation tourney will feature Africa’s top women’s rugby nations —Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Madagascar —from Thursday, 21 to Sunday, 31 May at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.

In a strategic leadership move, Odongo named bruising forward Natasha Emali and clinical backline orchestrator Judith Auma as co-captains to steer the national side on home turf.

Addressing the press during the squad naming ceremony, Odongo expressed immense confidence in the team's thorough preparation programme, highlighting the integration of the shorter version of the game into the 15s setup.

“Preparations are progressing well so far. We had a squad of 40 players in training since March and it has been whittled down to 28 for the championship.

“We currently have the Sevens players in camp, and I think that is a big milestone for us because next year will be crucial with both the World Cup and Olympic qualifiers coming up. This build-up period is therefore very important for both the 15s and 7s teams,” Odongo noted.

Acknowledging the immense threat posed by reigning champions South Africa, the tactician insisted that the Lionesses are focusing heavily on tactical discipline to bridge the gap.

“Against South Africa, we lost by just five points, and I believe they were the only team we lost to last year. Having featured at the World Cup, they will definitely be a formidable side.

“For us, the focus is on taking our chances better and reducing the margin. If we can convert our opportunities and force a clinical game, that would be positive. The challenge now is ensuring consistency, not only against Uganda and Madagascar, but also against South Africa,” he added.

The final 28-woman roster features an aggressive, physically commanding pack alongside a lethal, lightning-fast backline tailored to exploit the wide spaces on the Ngong Road grass.

The forward line-up boasts immense veteran presence, anchored by the returning loose-forward star Sheila Chajira alongside Knight Otwoma, Naomi Muhanji, and Naomi Amuguni.

They are joined by rising talents including Marvel Oswago and Jascenta Musakali, providing physical reinforcement for the grueling round-robin tournament.

In the backline, co-captain Judith Auma pairs up with a blistering array of playmakers and speedsters.

The squad incorporates the sharp finishing capabilities of Janet Okello and Stella Wafula, backed up by the technical depth of Edith Nariaka, Maureen Muritu and Faith Livoi.

KRU long-term plan

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chairperson Harriet Okach assured the federation’s absolute readiness to host a world-class showpiece, ralling the fans to turn out in numbers to support the ladies.

“Because we want to showcase the kind of talent we have, as Kenya Rugby Union, Rugby Africa recently gave us the opportunity to host the Africa Women's 15s Cup, which is a Performance Division, and that's a big deal,” Okach said.

“We want to urge fans to turn up in large numbers and fill the RFUEA Grounds to the rafters to cheer on our girls.”

The federation officials also showed importance the domestic league structure in building squad. They noted that the Kenya Cup League and local rugby festivals served as the primary source of players.

To guarantee the long-term success of the programme, management has established a strict mentorship structure within the national team camp.

New and younger players transitioning into the senior squad are systematically paired with experienced veteran mentors. This institutional blueprint is designed to quickly integrate incoming talent into the team's tactical expectations and the overarching culture of the Lionesses.

With the tournament serving as the primary vehicle to reclaim the absolute top spot in African women's rugby, team officials were clear about what success looks like on home turf.

Management defined a successful campaign as nothing short of absolute victory—beating Uganda, Madagascar and South Africa to climb to the peak of the continent and solidify a path toward global silverware.

However, despite the immense potential of the team, federation representatives made an urgent appeal to corporate entities and well-wishers for financial backing and sponsorship.

Officials pointed out that the front of the national 15s match-day jerseys remains entirely plain, as the team currently lacks an official title sponsor for the 15-aside format.

Corporates are heavily urged to come on board and invest in the women's game, while local fans have been challenged to show up in massive numbers to lift the team to victory.