Kenya Morans jet out to Dakar for FIBA World Cup Qualifiers

Kenya Morans Ariel Okall (center) and Taylor Ongwae in action against South Sudan.[Courtesy-FIBA]

National men basketball team, Kenya Morans, on Wednesday travelled to Dakar for the first round of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers set to tip off in Senegal.

Morans was supposed to travel on Tuesday morning, but a delay in the release of their funds for the trip by the Ministry of Sports meant they had to stay an extra day in the country.

Morans are expected to meet Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, Egypt on Saturday and Senegal on Sunday in their group D matches of the first round of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers.

The return matches are scheduled for July this year.

The best three teams from all four groups will advance to the second round of qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Morans head coach Cliff Owuor named his final list for the FIBA World Cup African qualifiers.

Ulinzi Warriors dominate the list of local-based players with four as KPA, Equity, and Thunder share the other three slots with one player each.

After missing Afrobasket, 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, return to the side.

Tom 'Bush' Wamukota, Tylor Ongwae, Desmond Owili, Faheem Juma, and Ronnie Gundo miss out on the list despite all having been part of the team that played at the FIBA Afrobasket championship in August last year.

Kenya Morans Final Squad

Griffin Ligare, Ariel Okal, Albert Odera, Joel Owich, Valentine Nyakinda, Victor Bosire, Eric Mutoro, Preston Bungei, Joseph Khaemba, Byron Ayodi, Fidel Okoth, Victor Ochieng