Lionesses' moment of reckoning

National women's basketball team, Lionesses, are scheduled to jet out of the country on Wednesday, 15 September for Yaounde, Cameroon where they will compete in this year's Women's Afrobasket. 

The unavailability of Zone Five's best Power Forward, Felmas Koranga has forced coach George Mayienga to make two changes to the squad bringing in Kenya Ports Authority's (KPA)Selina Okumu. 

Lionesses beat Egypt to be crowned FIBA Zone Five champions

Koranga a University student in the United States with Troy University did not join her Lionesses teammates in camp and is set to miss the championship as Kenya looks to restore her lost glory on the continental scene. 

Additionally, Mayienga has handed Strathmore Swords' Ivy Opicho her debut in the national team, replacing Selina's twin sister Celia Okumu who was part of the team that did duty in Rwanda during the Afrobasket qualifiers. Celia, however, did not get any playing time in her trip with the team. 

Selina missed the qualifiers in Rwanda after a change in dates for the tournament coincided with her exams prompting her to skip the Zone Five event. The other players are available for the championship. 

Lionesses will do battle against hosts Cameroon and Cape Verde in pool A of the Women's Afrobasket due on 17 to 26 September. 

Mayienga's charges beat Egypt in the FIBA Zone Five Afrobasket qualifiers to lift the zonal trophy and book an automatic slot to the continental showpiece. In 2019, Lionesses participated through a wild card.

The top team in each group advances to the quarter finals while second and third place finishers play a qualification round for a chance to the quarters. The same format was used during the men's inaugural Afro-CAN in Mali. 

Kenya Lionesses squad

Rose Ouma

Victoria Reynolds

Natalie Akinyi

Melissa Akinyi

Jemimah Night

Selina Okumu

Georgia Adhiambo

Mercy Wanyama

Brenda Wasuda

Vilma Owino

Christine Akinyi

Ivy Opicho