Kenya Lionesses Naomi Amuguni prepares to pass the ball during a recent match against South Africa/HANDOUT 

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Kenya Lionesses take on Belgium and Spain next week as part of their preparations for the World Sevens Series Division Two tournament scheduled for February 14–15 at Nyayo National Stadium.

Interim coach Simon Odongo’s charges will face the two European sides during a high-performance training camp in Alicante, Spain, running from January 26 to 31.

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The camp forms a crucial part of the team’s build-up as they target a strong campaign and a return to the elite World Sevens Series in the 2026–2027 season.

Speaking yesterday, Odongo said the decision to set up base in Europe was strategic. “The decision to base the camp in Europe forms part of the team’s wider performance strategy, aimed at testing combinations, improving match fitness and sharpening tactical execution ahead of the Nairobi leg of HSBC SVNS 2,” said Odongo.

The Lionesses have been in non-residential training since November, with 14 players selected to travel to Spain on Monday. Odongo admitted the final selection from a provisional squad of 26 was difficult due to the high level of competition in training.

“The squad selection follows an intensive training block, with the coaching and high-performance staff rewarding players who demonstrated consistency, resilience and strong on-field performances,” he said.

He added that the selection also recognises players who impressed in recent competitions, including the Safari Sevens and the Africa Sevens tournaments earlier this year.

Sheila Chajira will captain the team, with Freshia Oduor named vice-captain. The squad is boosted by the return of Stella Wafula following a high-performance training programme in the United States, while Grace Okulu will link up with the team from her base in France.

According to Odongo, the Spain camp marks a key milestone in the Lionesses’ build-up as they prepare to compete on home soil, with the Nairobi leg representing the first step in their HSBC SVNS 2 campaign.