Kenya Morans are set to demonstrate their prowess once again as they aim to secure victory in the second edition of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) AfroCan tournament, taking place from July 8-16 in Luanda, Angola.
Having clinched the silver medal in the inaugural edition held four years ago, the Morans find themselves in group A alongside Gabon
. The final team to complete the pool will be determined through a playoff match involving Guinea and a team from zone three.
According to the latest FIBA rankings from February 2023, Gabon is currently ranked 25th in the continent, placing them seven spots below Kenya.
To prepare for the competition, the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) has assembled a 29-man provisional squad, which commenced training on June 12 under the guidance of Coach Cliff Owuor.
Owuor, who previously led the national team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers in February last year, has been entrusted with leading the team to a successful campaign on the continental stage.
Group B will see hosts Angola go up against Mali and a wildcard team, while Group C comprises Morocco and the winners of the qualifiers from Zones One and Five. The quest for Zone Five’s representative will unfold in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where five teams will compete.
Defending champions DR Congo have been placed in Group D, where they will face Mozambique and Cameroon in their bid to retain the title. Algeria and Tunisia will contend for the ticket from Zone 1.
The winners of each group will progress directly to the quarter-finals, while the teams finishing second and third will compete in the qualification round for the remaining eight spots.
The AfroCan tournament was introduced by FIBA Africa as a new competition for African national teams. It was established as a means to bridge the gap between AfroBasket competitions, which now take place every four years instead of the previous two-year cycle.
This tournament provides African basketball players with an opportunity to showcase their skills ahead of the AfroBasket event, fostering growth and development in the sport across the continent.
