Kenya Morans open the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket campaign with a tough game against the Africa champions Tunisia in the Window 1 encounter in Monastir.
Playing in Group E, Kenya will also meet 11-time Africa champions on Saturday before taking on Guinee in their last match a day later.
With France-based forward Joel Awich and guard Derrick Ogechi who plies his trade in Spain, already linked up with the rest of the team from their European base, Morans are all set.
The duo, together with Australian-based centre Desmond Owili should play a key role in ensuring that Kenya returns to next year's premier competition in the continent.
Awich, whose mother Lynette also donned the national team colours as a member of the Kenya Lioness is upbeat about Morans' chances.
“First of all, always an honour to be called up to represent Kenya on this stage. We come to compete and to show that Kenya deserves a spot in Afrobasket,” offered Awich.
Playing before their insatiable home fans, Tunisia who won back-to-back AfroBasket championships in 2017 and 2021 will go into this tie as the favourites.
Awich and Owili both named assistant captains, were not available for last year’s AfroCan in Luanda, where Kenya finished sixth after bagging a silver medal in the inaugural show in Bamako, Mali.
Morans are going all out to right the wrongs in their last championship and playmaker Victor Bosire said Morans are no longer the underdogs and should be taken seriously in the event.
\A top-three finish will put them firmly on the road for the next window. Other members of the team expected to play a key role in Kenya’s quest in the four teams qualifiers are Albert Odera, Bramwell Muchina and Ariel Okal.
Morans' sharp shooting trio of veteran Griffin Ligare, Ariel Ortega and Faheem Juma will juice up the perimeter with crucial outside shots.
Another player to watch is the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Eugene Adera whose penetrating runs in the D should also cause anxious moments
