Kenya to miss the services of Bungei, Awich in Afrobasket campaign

Kenya Morans head out for their first FIBA Afrobasket championship in 28 years without the services of dependable forwards Preston Bungei and Joel Awich who were instrumental in the national men's basketball team's win against Angola to book a ticket to the competition. 

Coach Liz Mills and her assistants Sadat Gaya and Abel Nson have named a 14-man squad that is expected to leave the country on Saturday 21 August 2021, morning, for Kigali, Rwanda where the championship jumps off on 24 August through to 5 September 2021. 

Ulinzi Warriors shooting guard Eric Mutoro will skipper the side with his club teammates Joseph Khaemba and Victor Bosire as well as Nairobi City Thunder's Griffin Ligare doing duty on the backcourt. 

The technical bench has handed USA-based duo of guard Derrick Ongechi and forward Albert Onyango their debuts for the national team. 

Faheem Juma, Denmark-based Tylor Ongwae, Rwanda-based Valentine Nyakinda and Ariel Okall who was featuring for Kampala International University (KIU) Titans this season before the Ugandan league was suspended make the team's forwards quartet. 

Australia's Desmond Owili, USA-based Ronnie Gundo, Tom 'Bush' Wamukota currently plying his trade in Rwanda and Uganda-based Fidel Okoth complete Mills' list and will be entrusted with guarding Morans' rim as the centre players.

Having played just one friendly match against Jenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men's league champions Warriors for a narrow 75-72 win, the team is scheduled to play some test matches in Kigali before action begins. The tentative matches are against Senegal and Uganda who are in group D of the championship. 

Morans have been grouped alongside Mali, former champions Nigeria and Ivory Coast in group C.

The top two teams from each group will proceed to the last eight. Kenya finished fourth in her last appearance at the tournament in 1993 where the country played host to the games.

Morans travelling squad

Griffin Ligare

Joseph Khaemba 

Derrick Ongechi 

Bosire Victor 

Eric Mutoro 

Faheem Juma 

Albert Onyango 

Tylor Ongwae 

Ariel Okall 

Valentine Nyakinda 

Tom Wamukota 

Ronnie Gundo 

Fidel Okoth 

Desmond Owili