AfroBasket 2021: Lionesses seeking perfect start against Cameroon

The National Women’s Basketball side Kenya Lionesses will be hoping to invoke the spirits of 1993 FIBA Women's AfroBasket as they kick off their 2021 edition against Cameroon.

The Lionesses are part of the 12 teams competing in the championship running from September 17-26 in Yaounde with Cameroon hoping to make their home advantage count.

The 1993 Dakar edition of the tournament was the best result for Kenya at the Afrobasket as they lost the final to Senegal and went on to qualify for the World Championship in Australia the following year.

Speaking ahead of the tournament Vilma Achieng revealed that the side is under no pressure and is looking to better the results of Dakar 2019.

“Our main focus is competing better than our predecessors. I doubt if there is pressure but we would want to achieve more,” Achieng told Standard. 

Kenya bowed out of the last edition of the tournament in Dakar in an embarrassing fashion after failing to muster a single win hence failing to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The Lionesses will be without the influential Felmas Koronga who dazzled in the Africa Zone V Championships in Rwanda, where she was voted the Best Power Forward.

In her place head coach George Mayienga opted for Ivy Opicho while Selina Okumu who will also miss the championship will be replaced by Cecilia Okumu.

The Lionesses are pooled in Group A alongside Cameroon and Cape Verde.