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Kenya will be banking on the quality of their squad as they eye the continental title amid stiff competition from South Africa.
The women's national rugby 15s side, Kenya Lionesses are dreaming of the Rugby Africa Women’s First Division title as they seek to beat hosts Madagascar in their opening match of the competition on Saturday.
Lionesses will have experienced forwards Sheila Chajira, Enid Ouma, and Mercy Migongo in the squad after the trio was named in the final 28 by head coach Dennis Mwanja on Tuesday.
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RUGBY Mwanja 'quietly confident' Lionesses will take Africa Women’s Cup by storm
The women's national rugby 15s side will be taking on Madagascar, South Africa and Burkina Faso.
Chajira, who has been handed the captaincy, returns for the first time since August 2021 when Kenya took on South Africa in Stellenbosch and is one of 11 changes made by Mwanja from the squad that won the 2022 Rugby Africa Women’s Pool B tournament in Kampala, Uganda.
The other changes are Ouma, Migongo, Diana Awino, Valentine Atieno, Nelly Chikombe, Lewin Mwevezi, Mercy Migongo, Sinaida Mokaya, Hellen Anyango, Mitchelle Akinyi, and Freshia Oduor and the quality of the squad is giving Mwanja plenty to be optimistic about.
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“We are quietly confident as we look at a bright future for the Lionesses. We want to take our sport at the top level of rugby because for so long, we have fallen short and almost been there,” Mwaja said while unveiling his squad.
“We have our work cut out and have picked a team that is full of youth and experience with the cornerstone being discipline, commitment, and also the belief in having players with the right attitude to play.
“This team will carry the mantle for Kenya and it is a competition that we have picked the best factoring on consistency. We are excited about going to Madagascar and playing and we are confidently dreaming as we look forward to the upcoming fixtures.”
The Lionesses start their campaign with a clash against hosts Madagascar on Saturday, May 20 before playing South Africa four days later. They conclude their campaign with a match against Cameroon on Sunday, May 28.
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The winner of this tournament will qualify for the second tier of the newly-launched World Rugby WXV with the runner up qualifying for the third tier of the same competition.
The tournaments are intended to revolutionize the women’s international rugby landscape, providing for the first time a meaningful pathway for all unions and a competitive springboard towards an expanded 16-team Rugby World Cup in 2025.
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