Kenya’s men and women 3×3 wheelchair basketball national teams were knocked out in the semifinals against Nigeria, as South Africa and Nigeria booked direct tickets to the 2026 Commonwealth Games scheduled in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2, 2026.
Speaking on Thursday from the Arena Pavilhao Multiuso do Kilamba in Luanda, Angola, women’s team captain Caroline Wanjira expressed gratitude for the exposure, admitting that the team is still a work in progress and will carry home valuable lessons from the two-day continental showdown.
“We had a blend of young and experienced players. It takes time to gel, but we gave it our best fight, and the semifinals results reflect that,” Wanjira said.
“Kenya will bounce back. We came here and saw what it takes; next time, it will be us making history on the global stage,” she promised.
Kenya began their campaign on Wednesday, with the women losing 8-2 to champions South Africa and 8-0 to Nigeria. The men played three games, losing 19-8 against South Africa, narrowly losing 7-6 to Nigeria, and beating Gambia 10-4.
On Thursday, Kenya’s women lost 5-2 to a physically strong Nigerian team, while the men fell 10-6 to the same opponents, with last-minute scores influenced by a few technicalities.
The Nigerians were no match for the eventual tournament winners, South Africa. The men’s team from South Africa, known as the Sasol Wheelers, beat Nigeria 13-8, while the South African women lost 8-3 to Nigeria, with both Nigerian teams directly qualifying for Glasgow in July.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s 5×5 men and women wheelchair basketball teams, currently camping at the Jose Armando Savoyo Paralimpico in Bengo Province, will depart for Luanda and begin their games at the Arena Pavilhao Multiuso do Kilamba on Friday. Kenya’s women will play Liberia at 11:30 am local time, while the men will face Angola at 6:00 pm.
The 5×5 campaign will see the eventual African champions in both categories qualify for the 2026 International Wheelchair Basketball Federation World Championships in Ottawa, Canada, from September 9-19. This is a must for Kenya’s men and women, coming after the narrow miss in Glasgow, which will feature 3,000 athletes from 74 nations.