Kenya women's side storm to 3x3 Africa Cup final, men bounced in quarters

Kenya women’s 3x3 basketball side on Sunday evening booked their place into the FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup final after bouncing out Uganda 16-14 in the second semi-finals tie in Cairo, Egypt.

Holding a slim 15-14 lead with 14 seconds to go, Kenya had to make use of their last possession, and they did it by running down the clock before setting up Madina Okot for a game-winning basket that set the fourth seeds on the way to the evening final.

Standing in their way will be Africa’s top side - Egypt - who defeated Madagascar 18-14.

The winner of the 2050 EAT final will take the top spot in regards to African rankings, and will advance to next year’s FIBA 3x3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament, for a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Kenya, who are unbeaten in the 10-nation competition that began on Friday, broke out to an 8-5 lead inside the first four minutes of the game, before allowing Uganda back to within a point.

A 10-7 lead with three minutes remaining was later extended to 14-11, thanks to Natalie Akinyi, who completed an And-1 play to set up the tense finish.

Mercy Wanyama was Kenya's top points scorer with seven points and eight rebounds, while Akinyi contributed with five.

The situation was different for Kenya's men’s team in an earlier match, however, as they stumbled to a last-gasp 19-17 overtime loss to Nigeria in the tournament quarter-finals.

3x3 Africa Cup: Kenya's quarter final slots up for grabs as competition enters Day Two

A collapse would be a fair term to describe their loss, as after holding comfortable 12-9 and 15-11 leads, endured a tough stretch that saw Nigeria convert through Robert Chima Ukawuba and Marcel Esonwune, seeing both teams remain unseparated at the final buzzer - 17-17.

In overtime, the first basket won, and so it was for Nigeria as they - with the only possession in that period - staged a screenplay that resulted in Kelvin Okundaye shooting over Faheem Juma for the game-winner.

Zaddock Adika’s men finished their tournament with two wins out of five games overall; their only triumphs against Mali (walkover) and Morocco (14-15).