Basketball
Morans Face Tough Challenge in Group Stage Battles in AfroBasket Tournament
Morans embarked on their journey Tuesday night to Tunis, where they are slated to compete in Group E alongside hosts Tunisia, Angola, and Guinea. The event is scheduled to take place from Friday to Sunday.
Their opening fixture pits them against hosts and reigning Africa champions Tunisia on Friday, followed by a clash against 11-time AfroBasket winners Angola on day two. The group stage concludes with a match against Guinea.
Samuel Ocholla, assistant captain of Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), anticipates a challenging group stage, emphasizing the formidable opposition posed by Tunisia and Angola.
“All the games are going to be tough with Tunisia playing at home before their fans,” Ocholla remarked. “It won’t be an easy game. They have called up their veteran players to beef up the squad which will make the first game very hard for Morans.”
Reflecting on their previous encounters, Ocholla highlighted the narrow victory over Angola, stressing the importance of maintaining focus and resilience throughout the tournament.
“While Morans focus will no doubt be on the two Africa powerhouses, Ocholla says they should not underrate the Guinea side who are buoyed by the outstanding performance of their junior boy’s team,” the coach added.
Abel Nson, head coach of Storms Women’s Basketball, echoed Ocholla’s sentiments, emphasizing the unpredictability of Group E and urging Morans to approach each game with determination and strategic prowess.
“Nson, former Morans assistant head coach and who under former head coach Liz Mill, led the national team to the 2021 Afrobasket after 28 years is backing Morans to at least get a win to advance to the second round,” the coach continued.
Nson emphasized the significance of securing victories in the group stage to propel Morans into the latter rounds of the tournament.
Group ‘A’ comprises South Sudan and the DR Congo, while Group ‘B’ is composed of Cape Verde, Nigeria, and Uganda. In Group ‘C’, Senegal is joined by Cameroon and the rapidly advancing Rwanda, while Group ‘D’ includes Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Central Africa, and Madagascar.