Kenya Morans will be trying to prove that their 2019 exploits were no fluke as they attempt to win the second edition of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) AfroCan tournament set for July 8-16 in Luanda, Angola.
Morans, who won silver during the inaugural edition held four years ago, are in group A alongside Gabon.
The last team in the pool will be decided in a playoff match pitting Guinea and a team from zone three.
Gabon is ranked 25th in the continent, seven places below Kenya on the FIBA rankings last updated on February 2023.
The Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) named a 29-man provisional squad that began preparations on June 12 ahead of the competition.
Coach Cliff Owuor who handled the national team in FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers in February last year, has been given the mantle to lead the team to a successful continental challenge.
Hosts Angola will face Mali and a team to be awarded a wildcard in group B.
Morocco and the winners of Zones One and Five qualifiers will make group C.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania will host five teams who will battle for zone five's representative at the showpiece.
Defending champions DR Congo will begin their title defense in group D alongside Mozambique and Cameroon.
Algeria and Tunisia will fight for Zone 1’s ticket.
The winners of each group will advance directly to the quarter-finals while the teams that finish second and third will play the qualification round for the last eight spots.
AfroCan is the new competition of African national teams directed by FIBA Africa created from the decision to organise the FIBA AfroBasket every four years instead of two years as before.
The tournament is aimed at filling the gap national teams would have to endure before the next AfroBasket competition.
AfroCan is open to all African basketball players to showcase their abilities ahead of the AfroBasket.
