Basketball: Kenya ready to face Rwanda in AfroBasket qualifiers opener

The national women’s basketball team Kenya Lioness will on Monday kick off their 2021 Fiba AfroBasket Zone Five qualifiers in Kigali with a match against hosts Rwanda at 7 pm East African local time.

Kenya, Egypt, South Sudan and hosts Rwanda will battle it out for the single ticket reserved for Zone Five ahead of the 25th edition of the Fiba AfroBasket championships to be played in Yaounde, Cameroon later in September.

Kenya Lionesses landed in Kigali on Friday evening before Covid-19 screening.

The Lionesses trained on Saturday as they attempt to return back to Afrobasket after their mixed performance at the 2019 edition played in Senegal.

Lioness head coach George Mayienga said they are ready for throw-off after training for over two months the main goal is to qualify for Afrobasket for the second consecutive time.

The 53-year-old tactician was appointed the new Lioness coach after long-serving coach Ronnie Owino left the team on mutual consent.

Rose Ouma Nalo Georgia Adhiambo Victoria Reynolds Natalie Akinyi Melissa Akinyi Jemimah Omondi Celia Okumu Felmas Koranga Brenda Adhiambo Vilma Akinyi Mercy Wanyama Christine Akinyi

The winner of the tournament will play in FIBA AfroBasket championship from September 17-26 at the Multipurpose Sports Complex in Yaounde.

Kenya Lioness Basketball Team

Guards

 Rose Ouma Nalo- Al Nasr UAE

 Georgia Adhiambo- Ubumwe BC Rwanda

 Victoria Reynolds- USA

 Natalie Akinyi- KPA Kenya

 Melissa Akinyi- Equity Kenya

 Jemimah Omondi- Storms Kenya

Forwards

 Celia Okumu- KPA Kenya

 Felmas Koranga- Troy University USA

 Brenda Adhiambo- USA

Centers

 Vilma Akinyi- KPA Kenya

 Mercy Wanyama- AD Cortegada Spain

 Christine Akinyi- Zetech Sparks Kenya