Losing streak for Kenyan teams continue in Cairo

Coop Bank's Job Byron (left) shield Tobias Odumbe of KPA from the ball during play-off game 3 at Nyayo National stadium on Saturday, Feb 11, 2017. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Kenyan teams continued with their losing streak at the ongoing Fiba Africa Zone V Basketball Championships in Cairo.

The women’s team lost 81-76 to Egypt in the return leg while the men were beaten 89-84 by South Sudan.

Egypt, who had beaten Kenya 87-62 on Tuesday night, started the women’s return leg played at the Cairo Olympic Centre on Friday night on a lacklustre note losing the opening quarter 18-17 to Kenya.

But Kenya failed to carry on with same enthusiasm and determination in the second quarter which Egypt won 22-20 before the teams proceeded for half time break.

On resumption, Egypt continued to wreak havoc on the visitors as they won the third quarter 22-19 and the fourth 20-19 to emerge victorious in the match.

Mohammed Yahi scored a game high 26 points as her teammate R.Elgedawy added ten.

Betty Kananu Maithima scored 16 points for Kenya as Belinda Aluoch Okoth added 13.

Egypt were poised to play Uganda last night in a game which was to determine who between Kenya and Uganda bags the second ticket to Congo.

“I think we gave our all in the championships even though our hopes of qualifying for Congo is so dim and solely depends on the outcome of Uganda and Egypt match.

All in all the tournament was a great exposure to the Kenyan teams,” said Kenya women’s head coach David Maina.

In the men’s category, championship debutants South Sudan confirmed their victory over Kenya by triumphing 89-84 in the fifth to eighth place classification match.