US-based quintet headlines Lionesses’ AfroBasket squad

Under the tutelage of George Mayienga, a Kenya Lionesses provisional squad of 23 is set to hit camp in preparation for the FIBA Africa Zone Five Women’s AfroBasket qualifiers scheduled for Sunday 2 to Saturday 8 February in Cairo, Egypt.

Released by the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) on Thursday 9 January, the squad is set to prepare for three weeks before embarking on a journey back to the continental stage.

The provisional squad is headlined by stalwarts Felmas Koranga and Madina Okot as well as Rwanda Energy Group (REG) forward Victoria Reynolds.

Egypt confirmed as Zone Five Women’s Afrobasket qualifiers host

Both Koranga and Madina, based in the US, are expected to be joined by siblings Grace and Ruthie Mbugua and Mary Nyakundi, who are also playing in the American collegiate leagues.

Koranga was part of the team that won the Zone Five qualifiers to make it to the 2021 Women’s AfroBasket where Kenya placed ninth. She, however, missed out on the 2023 showpiece where Kenya finished third to miss out on a place in the continental competition.

Another key name in the squad is Reynolds who was instrumental for the Lionesses in the 2021 qualifiers. Making her debut for Lionesses, she was named the competition's Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the best small forward as Koranga picked the power forward accolade.

Mayienga’s charges recovered from a poor start to beat Egypt, for the first time in history, in a 99-83 score line to lift the title and book a back-to-back ticket to the Women's Afrobasket.

Also making the provisional squad is experienced forward Mercy Wanyama who most recently featured for REG in the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) qualifiers in Zanzibar in November 2024 but missed out on the continental showpiece.

She was part of the 3x3 national squad that settled for bronze in the Africa Cup hosted in Madagascar in December.

Receiving her first call-up is Croatia-based 25-year-old Canadian-Kenyan Shirliz Apiyo, a dynamic guard standing 5'6". She boasts an impressive 2022-2023 season with an average of 23.8 points per game and a remarkable 68.4% field goal percentage.

Her well-rounded skills are highlighted by her 7.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and an astonishing 7.8 steals per game.

The Kenyan-based legion is headlined by the indefatigable Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) duo of Natalie Akinyi and Seline Okumu with the latter’s sibling Elizabeth leading a list of seven from defending champions Equity Hawks.