Kenya’s Morans are set for a high-stakes battle in Tripoli as they fight for a spot at AfroBasket 2025. With Tylor Ongwae making his comeback, can they secure back-to-back qualifications? Read more on their journey below.
Last Updated on
February 13, 2025
Kenya's national men's team will battle from Friday, February 21, to Sunday, February 23, in search of a golden ticket to the 2025 FIBA Men's AfroBasket. The Cliff Owuor-coached side is keen to make back-to-back appearances in the 12-team competition, a feat that would make it the second time in the 21st century that the East African nation has been on the continental stage.
Led by Tylor Ongwae, the Morans made a bold statement in 2021 by defeating eventual champions and this year's hosts, Angola—a team Kenya had never beaten in its history. That victory secured their spot in the AfroBasket tournament, held in Rwanda, for the first time in 28 years. Now, facing Angola again in Group E of the qualifiers, the Morans have a tough challenge ahead as they enter the final qualification window with a 1-2 record. Joining them in the battle for a top-three finish are defending champions Tunisia and Guinea.
Ongwae, who retired from international basketball after the 2021 AfroBasket, is set to make a comeback, determined to lead his team to another qualification. When he stepped away in January 2022, the team was embroiled in controversy, with accusations and counter-accusations involving a section of the playing squad, then-head coach Liz Mills, and the federation. The disputes ranged from allegations of poor management to concerns over player discipline.
His absence saw him miss the February and July windows of the FIBA Africa World Cup qualifiers and the first two windows of the 2025 AfroBasket qualifiers. In the most recent window, held in February 2024, Owuor’s squad struggled early, suffering a 90-69 defeat to Tunisia and an 88-58 loss to Angola before securing a crucial 80-74 victory over Guinea to take third place in the group.
With a 23-man provisional squad named for the three-day competition in Tripoli, Libya, former Niners Chemnitz star and FIBA Europe Cup winner with the German Bundesliga side, Tylor Ongwae, is expected to make the final roster. He will likely be joined by national league Most Valuable Player Albert Odero and Basketball Africa League (BAL)-bound Thunder teammate Derrick Ogechi, both of whom played key roles in the first window.
Also returning to the squad is Joel Awich, who led the Morans in rebounding with six per game during the opening window. He averaged 10 points and ranked second in efficiency behind Odero. Meanwhile, veteran center Tom 'Bush' Wamukota, who missed the February 2024 window, is expected to come back. US-based forward Ian Ochieng, who plays for Andrews University Athletics' Cardinals, has also received a call-up and is already in Nairobi with the team.
“We have more than a month to prepare which is good for the team as this has been a limiting factor previously. It is a good place to start,” Ongwae told AfricaBasket.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
