Kenya Morans went out of the AfroBasket Qualifiers tournament quite painful after losing 60 - 58 to South Sudan. The Sudanese now advance to the last 8 of the Tournament and are set to play a grueling Tunisian squad. Kenya Morans had a lot to ponder about especially since this was their return to the prestigious tournament in 28 years. After falling 20-11 in the opening quarter, the game took a slightly different turn as Morans came so near yet so far finishing the first half behind South Sudan 39-24.
Kuony Ngor Kuony led the South Sudanese scoring 14 points for his team. Albert Odero was the game's highest scorer with 18 points, but it was not enough to help the Morans advance. The third and fourth quarter ended 17-12 and 19-7 respectively all in favor of the Sudanese. In the first five minutes of the second half, the side had scored more points than they had managed in two quarters of 20 minutes, dropping 18 while restricting South Sudan to nine, to cut a 20-point lead.
At the dying moments, 3 last offensive possessions were hushed by the Sudanese squad as Morans fought hard. With the clock reading 29 seconds, all South Sudan needed was to hold on to their possession and run down the clock leaving Morans with less than ten seconds to change the game in their Favour. Tyler Ongwae had all Kenyan hopes on him but absolutely no time to calculate his move beyond the arch for a tray that would have won Kenya the match. He went up just in time but his attempt hit the rim and bounced off to the back side and out of play, sending the South Sudan bench into a frenzy.
Kenya Morans have now shifted their focus to the FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifiers after being drawn in Group D with the likes of Senegal, Egypt Democratic Republic of Congo. Morans will play in the first round in either November or February next year. The World Cup will take place in two years in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
At the same time, neighbours Uganda will face Nigeria, Mali and Cape Verde in Group A as South Sudan face Cameroon, Tunisia and Rwanda in Group B. Group C will compose Ivory Coast, Guine, Angola and Central African Republic.