Kenya’s men’s team bounced back in style, thrashing Liberia 72-13 in their final match at the Africa 5×5 Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Luanda.
The win came just a day after Kenya’s women had also defeated Liberia at the Pavilaho Multiuso de Kilamba.
Speaking after the match, team captain Ian Kanji said he was proud of the team’s performance, noting they will return home with valuable lessons.
He said although Liberia posed little challenge, Kenya gave a strong performance. He added that Group A was highly competitive, featuring top-ranked African teams, including North African sides.
Kanji pointed out that countries like Senegal have an advantage, with players competing professionally in Europe, while Kenya lacks a professional wheelchair basketball league. He also noted that nations such as Morocco and Egypt have better sports infrastructure, and South Africa’s extended training camps show their level of preparation.
The match itself was one-sided, with Kenya leading 37-7 at halftime before sealing a dominant 72-13 victory.
Kenya’s men finished seventh overall, while the women’s team placed fifth out of six teams.
In other results, Senegal beat Algeria 51-48 to win bronze in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, South Africa, known as the AmaWheela girls, lost 39-22 to Algeria. Their men’s team also fell to Morocco 59-42.
The two North African nations secured qualification for the 2026 International Wheelchair Basketball Federation World Championships set for Ottawa, Canada in September, with Kenya missing out but gaining valuable experience from the tournament.
