KPA bolster squad ahead of WBLA qualifiers in Nairobi
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 30.10.25. | 13:05
Initially scheduled to be hosted in Uganda from Saturday, 8 November, the event has now been moved to Kenya with the dates set to be confirmed soon
With Kenya set to host this year's Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) Zone Five Qualifiers in November, national champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) are leaving nothing to chance in their quest to return to the continental showpiece.
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The 2023 silver medalists failed to qualify for last year's WBLA after placing fourth in the qualifiers hosted in Zanzibar, marking the first time since 2019 that a Kenyan side had failed to feature in the African competition.
At the time, head coach Anthony Ojukwu admitted that the competitiveness at the Zone level and the investment teams were making in the lead-up to the event demanded a change of tact for Kenyan teams to be just as competitive.
“Basketball has changed. Zone Five is extremely competitive now. Teams have intensely invested in their squads and are signing more elite players whose work ethic is not what we had been used to,” Ojukwu told Mozzart Sport while acknowledging that it takes work and finances to achieve such squads.
The team has now taken a similar path and roped in some talents from around the continent, led by Women's AfroBasket champion Ifunanya Okoro.
The Nigerian guard is making a return to the Dockers, having previously featured for the side in the national league a few seasons ago, clinching the Most Valuable Player (MVP) accolade.
Also joining the squad is Senegalese centre Aminata Ly, who was named the best rebounder at the 2024 WBLA, where she featured for Rwanda Energy Group (REG), making her debut in African club basketball.
The two internationals are joined by Kenya Lionesses' stars Mercy Wanyama and Betty Kananu, all no strangers to this stage and to KPA.
Last year, Wanyama featured for REG in the Zone Five qualifiers but missed out on the squad that played in Dakar, Senegal, while Kananu led Equity Hawks to a fifth-place finish. The former Kenyan MVPs add to the team's depth.
KPA, expected to be joined by silver medalists Zetech Sparks in the competition that has attracted 10 teams so far, carry Kenya's hopes to protect their home court and qualify for the continental showpiece scheduled for December in Cairo, Egypt.
From their national title-winning squad, however, coach Ojukwu will miss the services of reigning league MVP, Congolese power forward Grace Malu Irebu and Rwandan international Chantal Kiyobe, who have already signed deals with REG.
The duo join a squad that has also appointed Senegalese Malick Goudiaby as the new head coach ahead of the tournament.
He brings a wealth of experience, having coached Dakar University Club Women and ASC Ville de Dakar.
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