Basketball: Morans through to Afrobasket despite losing to Mozambique
Basketball
By
Washington Onyango
| Feb 21, 2021
="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/basketball/2001404082/kenya-morans-qualify-for-fiba-afrobasket-2021-tournament-for-first-time-in-28-years">Kenya Morans< were on Sunday handed a heavy 71-44 defeat by Mozambique as the 2021 Afrobasket qualifiers matches came to an end in Cameroon.
Despite the loss, the Morans have qualified for this year’s Afrobasket championship to be held in Rwanda.
Kenya Morans edged out 11-time African champions Angola 74-73 on Saturday to qualify for the 2021 Afrobasket tournament for the first time in 28 years.
The historic win, which Morans fought to the last second for victory, saw Morans register their first-ever win over the Southern Africa nation in basketball history.
The win over Angola sealed Kenya’s fate as they accumulated seven points, two more than Mozambique who had not registered any win in their last five matches.
And after their loss to Mozambique, who bagged their maiden win at the qualifiers, Kenya finishes third in Group B standings with eight points, one point more than Mozambique who bow out of the competition.
Senegal and Angola have already qualified for the="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/basketball/2001404082/kenya-morans-qualify-for-fiba-afrobasket-2021-tournament-for-first-time-in-28-years"> Afrobaske In the match against Mozambique, Joel Awich’s 11 points and four rebounds could not propel Kenya past their opponents.
Lacking the brilliance of Taylor Ongwae who was rested by head coach Liz Mills, Kenya started on a low and were trailing by two baskets at the end of the first quarter as Mozambique led 15-13.
In the second quarter, Morans fell further behind after being outplayed 21-10. Mozambique put the game to bed in the third quarter with a 24-9 lead before sealing their first win with a 71-44 win at the end of the match despite Morans claiming the fourth quarter with a narrow 12-11 score.
Kenya will now play at the Afrobasket for the first time since finishing fourth in the 1993 games hosted in Nairobi.
Kipchoge makes the final cut in Team Kenya to Paris Olympics
Peres Jepchirchir will lead a decorated team of women comprising Hellen Obiri and Brigid Kosgei.
'Big stage' Sancho back to scintillating best in Champions League semi
Sancho credited Dortmund's 80,000-strong crowd for getting the side across the line.
KCB two wins away from reclaiming continental title
Bitok is confident the team will reclaim the title they last won two years ago.
London Marathon winner Munyao in Kenya team for Paris Olympics
Munyao won the London race in a time of 2:04:01, getting the better of Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele.
Dortmund edge PSG in Champions League semi-final first leg
Fuellkrug scored the winner as Dortmund won 1-0.