The Kenya Morans have put themselves in a tough position in their bid to qualify for the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket after forfeiting their opening match against Tunisia. The team, coached by Cliff Owuor, failed to make it to Libya on time for the crucial Group E fixture, dealing a major blow to their campaign.
Morans Forfeit Opener Due to Logistical Challenges
The national men’s basketball team was set to face AfroBasket defending champions Tunisia on Friday, February 21, in Tripoli, Libya. However, due to logistical challenges—including difficulties securing connecting flights—the team did not travel, forcing an automatic forfeit.
The Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) confirmed the unfortunate news through an official statement, expressing regret over the situation:
“Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) regrets to report that due to unforeseen logistical challenges, which included lack of connecting flights into Tripoli, Kenya Morans Basketball Team is unable to arrive in time for the opening match at the ongoing FIBA AfroBasket Championship in Tripoli, Libya. As a result, Kenya will be forced to forfeit the match against Tunisia that is scheduled for this afternoon. While this setback is regrettable, Kenya Morans remain focused on the competition ahead.”
The statement reassured fans that the team remains determined to give their best performance in the remaining matches against Angola and Guinea.
A Costly Setback for Kenya’s Qualification Hopes
The forfeiture means Kenya automatically loses the match against Tunisia, leaving them at the bottom of Group E with just four points. This is a major setback, especially since Guinea pulled off a shock 66-65 win over record champions Angola on the same day, gaining maximum points.
Had Kenya played and lost, they would have still earned a point, keeping their qualification hopes slightly brighter. Now, they must win both of their remaining matches and hope for favorable results elsewhere.
Kenya’s Qualification Path Becomes More Difficult
The Morans need to finish in the top three of Group E to secure a spot in the continental tournament, set for August 2025 in Angola. With the forfeit, their path has become significantly harder, as they must now beat both Angola and Guinea while hoping that Guinea fails to pick up more points against Tunisia.
With Tunisia being one of the strongest teams in African basketball, Kenya was already considered underdogs for the match. However, the walkover means they have given away a crucial chance to fight for an upset.
Criticism Over Poor Planning
The failure to travel on time has sparked outrage from fans and basketball stakeholders, with many questioning the Kenya Basketball Federation and the Ministry of Sports over the logistical mismanagement.
Social media has been flooded with criticism, with fans calling out the authorities for failing to ensure that the team arrived on time. Given that a provisional squad had been named as early as January 10, many believe the situation could have been avoided with better planning.
Upcoming Fixtures: Do-or-Die for Morans
With only two matches left, Kenya must now deliver flawless performances to stand a chance of qualifying.
- Kenya vs Angola – A must-win match against the African basketball giants. Angola is historically one of the strongest teams in the competition, but their unexpected loss to Guinea has shown they can be beaten.
- Kenya vs Guinea – This game will be crucial, especially if Guinea has not picked up points against Tunisia.
Should Kenya lose either of the two matches, their dream of reaching AfroBasket 2025 will likely come to an end.
What’s Next for Kenya Basketball?
Beyond just the AfroBasket qualifiers, the Morans’ struggles once again highlight deeper issues within the sport in Kenya. Frequent cases of inadequate preparation, financial constraints, and travel difficulties have continuously hindered the team’s progress.
With the growing popularity of basketball in the country, many hope that such logistical issues will be resolved in future tournaments. However, for now, the Morans must put the controversy behind them and focus on winning their remaining matches if they want to keep their AfroBasket dreams alive.
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