Kenya Divas beat Botswana for fifth place in WCQ

Coach Joseph Makau will have the brilliance of his key players led by Beatrice Kabucho to thank for a dominant display against rivals Botswana for a 57-49 victory at the World Cup qualifiers in Pretoria. 

Kenya was part on nine nations that were chasing qualification to the Women's World Cup set for Cape Town, South Africa next year but could only manage fifth place, missing out on the global championship. 

Kabucho bagged a second player-of-the match performance, having won same award as Kenya picked their first victory in the championship against Eswatini on Wednesday, after giving a spectacular performance, scoring 52 of Kenya's goals and proving a thorn to the Botswana defenders. 

"I get to sleep tonight. I have had sleepless nights in the lead up to this match as we needed this victory. 

I had to have a strategy to beat their best players and my players executed perfectly on that front. I have a squad that will spring surprises when you least expect it and this was one of those times. They displayed alot of composure even when under pressure," offered a beaming coach Makau.

Kenya started the match strongly taking a 4-1 lead early in the first quarter a different that remained at 10-7 before going on a five goal scoring spree for a five-goal advantage at the end of the first quarter. 

The next period saw Kenya capitalise on their height advantage at the goalpost to go seven goals up at 20-13 and that gave Makau's charges a chance to play calmly and bag the goals, leading 29-23 as the match headed for the break. 

Botswana returned form the locker room guns blazing and quickly cut Kenya's advantage to two at 31-29 before the East African got their act together to reclaim their six-goal difference at 37-31 as the third quarter ended with the score reading 41-36. 

It was do or die for Botswana in the final 15 minutes of the match and they pushed Kenya to the wall, clawing back to within two goals of Makau's charges at 44-42 and Kenya was forced to restrategise. 

Divas keen to beat Botswana in classification matches

A lapse in concentration for the Botswana side gave Kenya the chance to make a strong comeback, pouncing on a few loose balls for turnovers that Kabucho and Bridgit Nanjala converted to points with ease to pull away for the 57-49 win. 

"This is the highest finish for my team since we made a return to international competition in 2018 and I am happy" added Makau.