The Kenyan Women Basketball team also known as Lioness has named its final squad for the AfroBasket tournament as they jet out today. The squad which jets out today for Yaoundé, Cameroon features two changes to the squad that won the Zone V championships, bringing in Ivy Opicho and Selina Okumu in place of Koranga and Cecilia Okumu.
The Lioness bagged the automatic Africa Zone V ticket by stunning Egypt 99-83 in the final in Kigali where Reynolds was named the Most Valuable Player. Kenya’s last AfroBasket outing in Dakar in 2019 was a disaster as they failed to win any match. Kenya are in pool A alongside Cameroon and Cape Verde. The Lioness will be led by Melisa Akinyi and Rose Ouma.
The Lionesses will be led by Melisa Akinyi and Dubai-based Rose Ouma as co-captains with coach Mayienga retaining 10 players who did duty in Rwanda. The other players in the squad consist of USA based duo of Victoria Reynolds and Brenda Wasuda, Natalie Akinyi, Jemmimah Knight, Christine Akinyi, Georgia Adhiambo, Vilma Achieng' and Spain based Mercy Wanyama.
The continental competition is due to run from September 18-25 and will feature Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Egypt, Mali and Tunisia.
TEAM :
Guards:
Rose Ouma Nalo- Al Nasr Dubai
Georgia Adhiambo- Ubumwe BC Rwanda
Victoria Reynolds- USA
Natalie Akinyi- KPA Kenya
Melissa Akinyi- Equity Kenya
Jemimah Omondi- Storms Kenya
Forwards:
Selina Okumu- KPA Kenya
Ivy Opicho-Strathmore University
Brenda Adhiambo- USA
Centers:
Vilma Akinyi- KPA Kenya
Mercy Wanyama- AD Cortegada Spain
Christine Akinyi- Zetech
OFFICIALS:
Joseph Amoko- Head of Delegation
George Mayienga- Head Coach
Mike Opel- Asst. Coach
Eunice Ouma- Biosecurity officer for COVID-19
Sylvia Kamau- TM
Angela Luchivya- Federation Official
Hilary Kubai- Doctor
Farida Kavere- Physiotherapist