2023 FIBA AfroCan: Morans bounced out by Morocco after second consecutive defeat

The AfroCan tournament bar had been set high in the 2019 edition, and in the face of adversity Thursday afternoon at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda Arena in Angola, the Kenya men’s national basketball side - Morans - fell wide off the mark, losing 55-46 to Morocco in the first of the four quarter finals on the day.

The defeat, a second on the bounce, meant that Kenya’s quest to go better than the silver medal they won in Bamako four years ago was over, and in quite a devastating fashion.

A nine point defeat it was at the end, but a performance the team will look at later and rue their missed opportunities.

Kenya’s best quarter came immediately after the halftime break, as Kenya’s most dependable player Eric Mutoro, the man who deservedly scored the most points for the team -10, made his presence felt early, hustling on both ends of the floor, and sinking in two quick shots that saw Morocco’s double digit lead at halftime halved in just two minutes.

Even after a 7-0 run by Morocco, the Ulinzi man found his way to rally a tough group that had Eugene Adera, Brian Shivachi, Griffin Ligare and Victor Bosire, making the team’s last five points to see the lead drop to just six points going into the fourth.

Up until the fourth minute of the last period, Kenya was looking at a three points difference (45-42), before the shades of what happened days ago in the Gabon defeat befell the team.

“We did so well in the third quarter and once it came to the fourth, we just didn’t get the right shot,” head coach Cliff Owuor said after the game.

Getting shots was one, as Morans shot 22% from deep, and hit just 18 of their attempted 61 shots.

The other, in all fairness, was the surprise lack of experience down the stretch. The group faltered.

From the moment Bosire brought the lead to three, to Kenya’s credit, they shut Morocco down, but gave away big opportunities in possession.

2023 FIBA AfroCan: Morans stumble to Gabon but sneak into quarters

One was a Bosire cross court pass that missed Victor Ochieng (who in 11 minutes had zero points, no assist, two turnovers and -4 plus minus), multiple fouls on Bush Wamukota and a shot clock violation.

In the blink of an eye, the lead was back up to seven, offering up a missed chance for a comeback.

“We made a lot of bad decisions,” a clearly crushed Owuor told the media afterwards.

So for the first time in the tournament, Kenya’s only lead was a Derrick Ogechi field goal early in the first quarter, and deficits in three of four quarters overall.

The Moroccan onslaught was led by Jihad Benchlikha - who accounted for a wholesome of threes in their 17-10 first quarter lead - with 14 points, with the duo of Mohamed Choua and Kevin Franceshci finishing with 10 and 13 points respectively.

Mutoro was Kenya’s only man in double figures, perhaps the sorry state of a team that had more turnovers than field goals made.