Kenya recorded mixed results on Monday, Day 4 of the ongoing Africa Wheelchair Basketball Championship in Angola’s capital, as the men defeated the DRC 45–35 in an East Africa derby, while the women suffered two heavy losses—71–21 to Africa’s top-ranked team Algeria, and 71–10 to second-ranked South Africa.
Speaking after the men’s game at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Kilamba, team manager Joseph Ochieng thanked his players, praising their work ethic.
“It’s a learning process. Both teams have some young players we are trying to integrate, and eventually we will get there,” said Ochieng.
The women started slowly, allowing Algeria’s point guards Djamila Khemgani and Menouba Foulan(i) to get behind Ashley Autai on counterattacks, an effort that saw Algeria lead through the first two quarters heading into halftime.
Kenya, coached by Sarah Libese, responded by bringing in the experienced Esther Asige as a shooter and Eunice Otieno as guard. Algeria, under Houri Youcef, introduced veteran Samiha Abdelali, a two-time Paralympian in shot put at Tokyo and Paris.
Kenya improved in the third and fourth quarters, but it was too late to catch up with the African champions, who won 71–21.
Later, Kenya’s men faced the DRC (Les Léopards) and staged a remarkable comeback after trailing 20–32 at halftime.
Assistant coach Maurice Ouma, alongside captains Ian Kanji and Itaken Timoi, rallied the team, leading to a strong second-half performance.
Key contributions came from Dennis Ndung’u, Simon Ngugi, Milton Ilahuya, Kelvin Njoroge and Kanji. Timoi was substituted for Njoroge, who later made way for Robert Kimotho and Ilahuya, allowing young star Aman Odido to feature. Kenya went on to secure their first win of the championship, 45–35.
In the evening, Kenya’s women faced South Africa’s AmaWheela in a must-win match to keep their hopes alive for qualification to the 5x5 Wheelchair Basketball World Championships in Ottawa in September 2026. However, they suffered a heavy 71–10 defeat, effectively ending their realistic chances of qualification after earlier losses to Angola and Algeria.
