Kenya Lionesses to miss influential duo ahead of Africa Women’s 7s

Kenya Lionesses will be without two of their key players, Stella Wafula and Diana Awino, during the Africa Women’s Sevens scheduled for Saturday, 15 to Sunday, 16 November at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.

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The influential duo, who currently feature for the Rhino franchise in the United States, will miss the continental tournament due to club commitments.

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Lionesses’ interim coach Simon Odongo confirmed that both players will be attending a high-performance camp in America and will not return in time for the event.

“Stellah Wafula and Diana Awino will be at the high-performance camp in America with the Rhinos and will not be back on time,” Odongo said.

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While their absence will undoubtedly be a blow to the Lionesses, Odongo emphasised that it also presents a valuable opportunity for local players to step up.

“We pride ourselves in building depth and believing in the ladies we have here, and it shows that women’s sport is growing. The more ladies we can export outside, the more we can expose here,” he added.

Despite the setback, Odongo remained optimistic about Kenya’s chances, buoyed by the return of seasoned playmaker Janet ‘Shebesh’ Okello, who rejoins the squad after a 12-month stint in Japan. Her experience and creativity are expected to be crucial to the Lionesses’ campaign.

Also back in contention are Freshia Awino and Christabel Lindo, who impressed during last month’s Safari Sevens at Nyayo Stadium after recovering from injuries.

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“Freshia and Christabel showed their worth at the Safari Sevens with exemplary performances after injuries. They are in contention to play at the African event,” Odongo noted.

Kenya has been drawn in Pool B alongside Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, opening their campaign against the former in a fixture that will rekindle memories of last year’s group-stage meeting in Accra, where the Lionesses cruised to a 41-0 victory.

Last year, Kenya narrowly missed out on continental glory after a 12-7 loss to South Africa in the final. Having gone unbeaten through the group stages and semifinals, Odongo hopes his charges can build on that consistency as they aim to reclaim the African crown last won in 2018.

The 2025 edition carries added significance, serving as the African qualifier for the 2026 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, with only the tournament winner securing the coveted slot.

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The Africa Women’s Sevens will also serve as valuable preparation for the World Rugby Sevens Series Division Two, set to kick off in February 2026.