L. MathekaAfrica 3x3 champions off to Tunis for Olympic qualification preps
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 26.01.24. | 12:55
FIBA Africa set up the program in collaboration with the Serbia 3x3 Academy for all African teams that have qualified for 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournaments
Africa 3x3 senior women’s champions, Kenya, jetted out on 26 January, morning, to Tunis, Tunisia, for the FIBA 3x3 Africa Elite Camp.
The camp will run from January 27 to February 2, 2024.
FIBA Africa set up the program in collaboration with the Serbia 3x3 Academy for all African teams that have qualified for 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournaments as part of preparations.
The Tunisia team comprises coach Everlyne Kedogo, African championship Most Valuable Player (MVP) Natalie Akinyi, Hilda Indasi, Maryann Nyagaki, and Joy Mupalia.
Mercy Wanyama and Madina Okot, who were part of the team that beat hosts Egypt in December’s African final, are currently unavailable due to club and college attachments.
According to FIBA Africa, the continent’s good representation at the qualifying tournaments is important for the continental governing body and they promised to contribute as much as possible to all the African countries that have qualified.
“This support will be provided through the FIBA 3x3 Africa Elite Camp program, to prepare these countries. Each team will be composed of one coach and four players. The team's travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by FIBA Africa, while visa and insurance costs will be paid by your national federation,” the invitation to the camp, shared with the federations in December, reads in part.
With little under 37 seconds left in December’s final, Egypt led 20, Kenya having fought from a 19-13 deficit with 1.21 to play. Okot hit a crazy one-legged two-point fadeaway to make it 20-19.
Kenya Basketball 3x3 Senior women’s team departed early this morning to Tunis, Tunisia, for the FIBA 3x3 Africa Elite Camp set to run from Jan 27- Feb 2, 2024. FIBA Africa has set up the program in collaboration with the Serbia 3x3 Academy pic.twitter.com/F3hmOFi4yU
— Matheka (@Lynmatheka) January 26, 2024
Then came an empty Egyptian possession that bled the clock. Okot picked a quick rebound from a missed shot with six seconds left, passed sideways to Wanyama on the edge, and then to Akinyi on the outside.
At this point, there was no time - 3.3 seconds - to think about anything. A two-point shot went up and Akinyi, in true MVP fashion, led Kenya to victory, moving the team closer to the Paris Summer Games.
