Awich, Okal back in Kenya Morans fold as final squad for Afrobasket Qualifiers is named

Kenyan forward Joel Awich will make a return to the men’s national basketball side - Kenya Morans - after being named in coach Cliff Owour’s 12 man squad set to take part in the 2025 FIBA Afrobasket Qualifiers slated for 23-25 February 2024.

The 30 year old, currently plying trade in France for Béliers de Kemper, was last involved in the Kenyan setup in February 2021, where he was among the group of players that memorably beat Angola 74-73 to secure Morans a spot in the Afrobasket championships for the first time in 28 years.

Now, he returns with a plan of getting Kenya over the hump once again, and will be reuniting with Ariel Okal, also making a return to the squad after missing the 2023 FIBA Men’s AfroCan Tournament due to club commitments with Burundian club Dynamo BBC.

Awich is not the only foreign based player to be included in the squad that touched down in Tunis, Tunisia Wednesday afternoon; guard Derrick Ogechi out of Cordoba CB in Spain is part of the squad after an impressive national team debut last year that saw him put up on average: 13 points and 6.8 rebounds.

Ariel Ortega, after a successful outing in the AfroCan championships in Luanda, Angola last July, is also part of the final 12, as is Kenyan league defending MVP Eugene Adera.

Bramwell Muchina, who shone with a team high 13 points against Nigeria in the FIBA AfroCan last year, also maintains his spot.

2023 FIBA AfroCan: Morans edge past Nigeria to book Saturday's fifth place final

The team, led by skipper Victor Bosire, will begin their quest for a fifth appearance in the 16-team tournament against Tunisia on Friday 23 February at Salleh Mohamed Mzali Arena, before matching up against Angola and Guinea on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 respectively.

FULL SQUAD: Victor Bosire (captain), Desmond Owili (Assistant Captain), Derrick Ogechi, Griffin Ligare, Bramwell Muchina, Fidel Okoth, Faheem Juma, Ariel Ortega, Albert Odero, Ariel Okal, Eugene Adera.