As Team Kenya intensifies preparation for the Brazzaville, Congo continental sports carnival, nine players have been axed from the All Africa Games-bound national women's volleyball team.

Faith Imodia, Celestine Nyongesa, Sherylne Kipkemei, Valentine Chepkosgei, Celestine Sitawa, Hellen Chemtai, Immaculate Chemtai, Esther Simiyu and Ruth Chelagat have been dropped from the final team.

Assistant coach Josp Baraza is confident the chosen lineup will deliver in Brazzaville. "We selected not only the best from the best, but also those who combine well both in offensive and defensive lines," intimated Baraza, a former Kakamega Prisons middle blocker.

"The remaining 10 days for preparation are enough for us to narrow our attention to a smaller unit of players that will deliver the Kenyan target in Brazzaville," added Baraza.

Kenya Pipeline duo of Rose Magoi and Leonida Kasaya together with Prisons Kenya's Anne Lowem, and KCB's Naomi Too will be making their maiden appearance with the senior national team in Congo. Lowem first represented the country last year during the Africa Youth Games with the under-20 team in Botswana.

Lowem was sidelined from donning the national colours in May during the All Africa Games qualifiers in Uganda after she sprained her left ankle.

"I am happy to make the cut and pray that I do not pick and injury. I look forward to represent my country well and deliver gold medal in the end of it all," said the former Kwanthanze skipper, who led the team to win their first East Africa Secondary School games in 2013 in Lira, Uganda.

Final squad: Joy Lusenaka and Rose Magoi (setters), Loice Tarus and Violet Makuto (right attackers), Joan Chelagat, Edith Wisah and Anne Lowem (middle blockers), Leonida Kasaya, Esther Mwombe, Naomi Too, Gaudencia Makokha (left attackers) and Judith Tarus (libero)