Kenya suggested to discern strategy after Afrobasket flop

Kenya suggested to discern strategy after Afrobasket flop

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Kenya’s nationwide ladies’s basketball crew, the Lioness, suffered a 63-80 defeat to South Sudan’s Bright Starlets within the third-place playoff on the Afrobasket 2025 Zone 5 qualifiers in Cairo, Egypt.

The loss capped off a disappointing marketing campaign for Kenya, who had already endured two defeats within the round-robin stage. As a consequence, they completed fourth and missed out on qualification.

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Secretary General Angela Luchivya admitted the crew was unprepared for the competitors. 

Speaking to People Sport on Saturday whereas en path to the crew’s residence in Cairo, Luchivya conceded Kenya’s lack of preparation. 

“We were not very ready for the Afrobasket 2025 qualifiers. Our opponents, Uganda, South Sudan, and Egypt, were well-prepared,” she admitted. 

Kenya’s head coach, George Mayienga, echoed related sentiments yesterday stating that South Sudan had considerably improved in comparison with previous years. 

“We didn’t expect them to play the way they did. Compared to two or three years ago, they were a completely different team,” Mayienga mentioned. 

“During the 3rd place play-off, l had to make some chances. And, some of the ladies l brought in showed a lot of resilience. However, it is a lesson for us. When we arrive back home and settle, we need to sort out issues,” Mayienga defined.

Mayienga famous that Uganda and South Sudan benefited from calling up their foreign-based gamers, significantly these in European leagues. He lamented that Kenya’s foreign-based gamers failed to affix the nationwide camp at Nyayo Stadium. 

“Only Victoria Reynolds, who plays for Rwanda Energy Group (REG), and Mercy Wanyama made it. Others, like Medina Okot, who is on a basketball scholarship at Mississippi University, couldn’t be released since she is a key player for her varsity team,” he defined. 

He added that different gamers indicated they’d solely be accessible between June and August if Kenya had efficiently certified. 

Mayienga declined to touch upon the omission of Kenya’s high three-point shooter and MVP, Betty Kananu, saying it was a KBF matter. However, he careworn the necessity for early preparation.