Grace Adhiambo and Janet Okello have been recalled to the Kenya Lionesses team for the winner-take-all Olympic repechage tournament in Monaco later this month. The duo missed the final Challenger Sevens Series leg in Krakow, Poland last month due to club commitments in Japan, where they play for Nagato Blues Angels.
Additionally, Fresia Awino has been drafted into the squad to replace the injured Phoebe Akinyi, who sustained a knee injury in training. Head coach Dennis Mwanja believes the return of Adhiambo and Okello will be a significant boost to the team in Monaco. Unfortunately, Terry Ayesa and Phoebe Akinyi, who were part of the squad for the Challenger Sevens Series, will not travel due to injuries sustained during training.
However, rookie Edith Nariaka, who has been part of the larger training group, makes the team for the Monaco assignment. The Lionesses are aiming to make their third appearance at the Olympics after featuring in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and in 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. They missed out on automatic Olympics qualification after losing to South Africa’s Springboks 63-5 in the Africa 7s cup final.
In Monaco, the Lionesses are in Pool ‘A’ alongside Argentina, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa. The full squad for the Monaco tournament includes Sheila Chajira, Naomi Amuguni, Stella Wafula, Maureen Muritu, Christabel Lindo, Edith Nariaka, Grace Okulu, Sinaida Mokaya, Freshia Oduor, Sharon Auma, Janet Okello, and Judith Okumu.
