L. MathekaLionesses face Uganda test in Zone Five opener
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 14.02.23. | 12:00
The competition qualifies teams for the Women’s Afrobasket and Africa Games set for later this year.
National women’s basketball team, Kenya Lionesses, open their FIBA Africa Zone Five title defense against hosts Uganda Gazelles on Tuesday 14 February at Lugogo Indoor Arena.
The George Mayienga-led side have their work cut out as they look to beat four other teams to the title for a chance to feature in their third consecutive Women’s Afrobasket and eighth overall.
@afrobasketwomen zone five qualifiers. All the best Kenya Lionesses pic.twitter.com/mppqNP8WtS
— Matheka (@Lynmatheka) February 14, 2023
Not only will the teams compete for their places in the 2023 Women's AfroBasket, but they will also try to reach the 2024 Paris Olympics and the Africa Games as well.
“As the defending champions, all teams will come hard at us so our game has to be smart. We have to remain focused on the task ahead. Facing the hosts in our opening match will not be an easy task as they will have the crowd and home-court advantage but I believe we have the mental strength to fight through that,” offered assistant coach Antony Ojukwu ahead of the match.
Lionesses go to battle without the last edition’s best power forward Felmas Koranga who was named in the provisional squad but is unable to honour the call up.
“She was an instrumental part of the squad in 2021 and her services will be missed. However, we have full confidence in the payers named in the squad. We have an experienced team and the two making their debut, Maryanne Wanjiru and Rachael Odhimbo, are equally capable,” Ojukwu added.
The tactician admits that Uganda, who missed the 2021 championship hosted in Rwanda, have the advantage of size too as they have several of their internationals in their squad but in a quick rejoinder says they will have a response for whatever the Ugandans throw at them.
In 2021, at the tournament hosted in Kigali, Kenya booked their ticket to a second straight FIBA Women’s AfroBasket and seventh overall when they defeated favourites Egypt 99-83.
However, in the Final Round in Yaounde, Egypt, who landed a wild card, finished sixth after winning three of their six games. Egypt were denied a place in the Semi-Finals after a 67-61 loss to hosts Cameroon. Kenya, on the other hand, finished ninth.
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