The Kenya Wheelchair Basketball Federation (KWBF) has sent a team of 12 men and 12 women to Bengo Province in Luanda, Angola, for the 3×3 and 5×5 2026 IWBF Africa Senior Men and Women Wheelchair Basketball Championships.
Speaking on Sunday upon the team's arrival at the José Armando Sayovo Paralympic Sports Complex pavilion, KWBF President Alfred Simiyu said he was in high spirits and told Radio Generation that his charges are targeting qualification for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships in Ottawa, Canada.
“We just had a team that finished with silver at the just concluded Africa Women’s U-25 Championships in the DRC. Five of those players are also here to beef up the veterans, and for the men, we have tried to get a blend of youngsters and experienced stars,” said Simiyu.
Kenya is part of a prestigious 20-national-team continental showdown that serves as the official African championship for senior national teams.
The tournament forms a key part of the qualification pathway to the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships in Ottawa, Canada, for the 5×5 men’s and women’s championships that will be held from March 27 to April 4 at the José Armando Sayovo Complex.
The winners in this category will qualify directly for Ottawa, while the second-placed countries will advance to the 2026 Repechage Tournament, which offers another opportunity to qualify for the global event.
The 3×3 men’s and women’s championship begins on March 24, 2026, with all eyes focused on which teams will secure direct qualification for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Kenya’s men will battle it out with 11 other countries, while the women will compete against seven other nations for top honours.
Kenya’s women’s side has included five players from the Kinshasa U-25 national team—Christine Mutheu, Diana Wabwire, Michelle Yegon, Mary Atieno and Ashley Autai. They join Caroline Wanjira, Phyllis Warioko, Stella Tiyoy, Beth Wanja, Eunice Otieno and Merceline Anjejo to complete the list of 12 players selected to represent Kenya in the 5×5 tournament.
The team will be coached by Sarah Libese, assisted by Caroline Adhiambo.
Only four women have been selected to compete in the 3×3 competition. The team includes veterans Caroline Wanjira, Phyllis Warioko and Stella Tiyoy, who will be joined by U-25 prodigy Michelle Yegon. They will be coached by Caroline Adhiambo and Charles Otieno.
Charles Ogolla will coach the four men selected for the 3×3 games. The side will be led by captain Ian Kanji, alongside youngster Milton Ilahuya, veteran Itaken Timoi and Robert Kimotho.
The four are also part of the 12-man squad for the 5×5 games. They will join Evans Otieno, Haman Odido, James Karanja, Kelvin Ngugi, Supeiyo Koila, Elvis Jowi, Simon Ngugi and Dennis Ndung’u. The team will be coached by Nicholas Ngumbi, assisted by Maurice Ouma.
Ian Kanji will captain the men’s 5×5 team, while Itaken Timoi will captain the 3×3 side. Beth Wanja and Caroline Wanjira will captain the women’s 5×5 and 3×3 teams respectively.