Kenya Lioness head coach Dennis Mwanja has unveiled a 12-woman sevens squad set to travel to South Africa early next week for the 2025 HSBC Challenger Series.
The first two rounds will take place at Athlone Stadium in South Africa on March 1-2 and March 7-8.
The National Women’s Sevens team has been placed in Pool D alongside Poland and Samoa, aiming for a top-four finish in the overall standings to secure a spot in the HSBC SVNS play-off tournament.
The travelling squad features a blend of seasoned players and emerging talent. Among the standout performers is Naomi Amugani of Mwamba RFC, alongside Faith Livoi, who earned her place after a stellar performance at the 2023 Safari Sevens.
The duo is joined by Christabel Lindo, Stella Wafula, Sheila Chajira, Moreen Muritu, Sinaida Mokaya, and the speedy Freshia Oduor.
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Coach Mwanja expressed his confidence in the squad, highlighting their unwavering commitment and rigorous preparation for the competition.
“The girls have been working tirelessly in training, and I’m confident they will showcase their abilities on the field. This is a gifted and resilient group, and I believe they’re primed for the challenge ahead,” he stated.
The tournament format will see the top team from each pool advance directly to the semi-finals, while the second-place finishers will battle for positions five through eight.
Teams finishing third in their pools will compete for ninth through twelfth place.
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The top eight teams from the first two rounds will progress to the third round of the Challenger Series, scheduled for April 11-12 in Krakow, Poland.
From there, the top four ranked teams will qualify for the HSBC SVNS play-off tournament in Los Angeles on May 3-4, where they will vie for a coveted spot in the prestigious HSBC SVNS series stage.
Kenya Lioness Squad
- Naomi Amuguni
- Christabel Lindo
- Sheila Chajira
- Stellah Wafula
- Faith Livoi
- Moreen Muritu
- Sinaida Mokaya
- Freshia Oduor
- Judith Okumu
- Grace Okulu (Captain)
- Sharon Auma
- Diana Ochieng
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2025 HSBC Challenger Series Pools
Pool A – South Africa, Hong Kong China, Czech Republic.
Pool B – Argentina, Thailand, Mexico.
Pool C – Uganda, Belgium, Colombia.
Pool D – Kenya, Samoa, Poland.