Can Kenya Lionesses find their lost mojo?

After their heroics in Dakar, Senegal in 1992 where Kenya bagged the silver medal in the AfroBasket and booked a ticket to the 1994 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Australia the performance of Lionesses in Africa has plummeted to an all-time low.

The national women’s basketball side will be looking to redeem their lost glory as they seek qualification to the 27th edition of women’s AfroBasket which will take place from September 17, 2021 to September 26, 2021.

Lionesses will have to content with tough competition at the Zone Five qualifiers as they will be up against perennial rivals Egypt and Uganda with another force in debutants South Sudan on the cards.

Kenya finished last in the 2007 tournament, managed a tenth place finish in the 2013 edition and 11th in 2019. In the last edition, Lionesses missed the automatic qualification slot at the Zone Five competition, after falling to Egypt in the decider match, but landed a wild card for the Senegal-hosted games.

Their 2019 outing was not without its fair share of drama as the players, in a video, had complained of a tough outing that had seen the team travel without assistant coach Evelyn Kedogo and a playing unit of ten instead of 12 players.

From the team that did duty in Senegal, only three players have made the recently released provisional squad with the technical bench completely overhauled. Former United States International University (USIU) head coach, currently with Uganda’s Dolphins George Mayienga assumes the head coach position previously held by Ronnie Owino. He will be assisted by Kenya Ports Authority’s Mike Opel, Strathmore Blades’ Tony Ochieng and Eunice Ouma.

Mercy Wanyama, currently plying her trade in Spain with AD Cortegada, KPA’s Velma Achieng and Rwanda-based Georgia Adhiambo are the only players who have made cut to the provisional squad from the 2019 squad.

Troy University’s Felmas Koranga will lead the foreign legion that also has Victoria Wanjara(USA) Clara Rotich (Tyler Junior College) Purity Auma (Bagladesh) Brenda Adhiambo (Washington, USA) Rose Ouma (Al Nasr-UAE), Georgia and Wanyama.

The local based players’ list has been dominated by KPA players with seven players making the list from the dockers while holders Equity have three in the provisional squad.

Some key players left out of the squad include Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) 2019 women’s league Most Valuable player Annrose Mandela, top scorer and long-serving skipper Hilda Indasi as well as Betty Kananu.

Squad 

Felmas Koranga-Troy University, USA

Mercy Wanyama- AD Cortegada, Spain

Victoria Wanjara- USA

Clara Rotich- Tyler Junior College

Purity Auma-Bagladesh

Brenda Adhiambo Washington, USA

Rose Ouma-Al Nasr, UAE

Mary Lisa- KPA

Natalie Akinyi- KPA

Melisa Akinyi- Equity

Velma Achieng- KPA

Selina Okumu- KPA

Georgia Adhiambo- Ubumwe BC Rwanda

Christine Akinyi- Zetech

Jemmimah Knight- Storms

MaryAnne Nyagaki- Equity

Liz Okumu- UON

Medina Okot- KPA

Ritah Oluoch- Equity

Becky Muthoni Nkatha- KPA

Taudencia Katumbi- KPA

Ashley Minayo- Riara

Head Coach

George Mayienga

Assistants

Mike Opel

Eunice Ouma

Tony Ochieng