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The Nairobian

Kenya Morans reflect on lessons after AfroBasket qualifying disappointment

Basketball

By Washington Onyango | Feb 24, 2025

Albert Odero of Kenya Morans in action against Guinea during the 2025 AfroBasket qualifiers. [FIBA]

Kenya Morans will have to wait for another opportunity to make a return to the AfroBasket tournament after falling short in the final qualification window. Their campaign ended with a 57-44 loss to Guinea, sealing their fate and missing out on the 2025 continental showpiece.

Guinea, led by the outstanding duo of Shannon Evans and Ousmane Drame, proved superior on the day, securing their third consecutive AfroBasket appearance. Evans and Drame combined for 39 points, with the latter also recording 10 rebounds. Guinea finished third in the qualifiers with eight points, two ahead of Kenya, who suffered a major setback when they forfeited their opening game against Tunisia due to late travel arrangements.

Guinea set the tone early, racing to an 8-0 lead as Kenya struggled to convert their shots. Despite a brief resurgence that saw the Morans close the gap to four points at 33-29, Guinea’s precision from beyond the arc, particularly from Drame and Evans, kept them ahead. Kenya ultimately faltered in the final minutes, unable to close the deficit as Guinea maintained their dominance from range, hitting 11 three-pointers compared to Kenya’s four.

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Despite the disappointment, Kenya Morans forward Tylor Ongwae acknowledged the team’s strong defensive identity but pointed out offensive struggles as a key issue.

"Two good defensive teams played against each other today, and Guinea were the better side. Credits to them for qualifying for AfroBasket. Our identity is defense, and we executed well, but offensively we struggled. If we had a bit more energy, we would have given ourselves a chance," Ongwae remarked.

Kenya head coach Cliff Owuor echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the team's offensive lapse in crucial moments.

"We went on a dry spell for four minutes in the last quarter and missed chances that would have turned the game on its head. It has, however, been a competitive event, and everyone has beefed up," said Owuor.

Kenya’s campaign was marred by challenges from the start, including the costly forfeit against Tunisia. Their second-leg matches saw them suffer an 88-59 defeat to Angola before the loss to Guinea. Last year, the Morans had also faced tough results, losing to Tunisia and Angola but managing a hard-fought 80-74 win over Guinea.

Now, with their AfroBasket dreams dashed, the Morans will regroup and look to rebuild ahead of future international competitions, with lessons learned from their campaign in mind.