NAIROBI, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan men's and women's basketball teams have lined up Ghana friendly matches in Nairobi on Friday to gauge their preparations ahead of the Africa Games Zone Five qualifiers.
These came just five months after the Kenyan men's team lost out to Cameroon 61-46 in another friendly match also staged in Nairobi.
Cameroon were on their way to Luanda to play against Angola in the African qualifiers to the China 2019 World Cup.
Seven teams out of 11 have confirmed participation in the Zone Five Africa Games qualifiers, which will be staged in Kampala, Uganda in June. Champions Egypt, Kenya, Somalia, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda will be the teams eyeing the single slot from the group.
The Africa Games will be held in August in Rabat, Morocco from Aug. 19-31.
"Our training has been good since December. The friendly against Ghana will be important to our players and it could not have come at a better time. It will help the coach to assess our strong points and identify weaknesses that need to be acted upon," said Ronnie Owino, the Kenyan women's head coach.
With the qualifiers expected to be competitive, Kenya have recalled the Spain-based power forward Mercy Wanyama to steer the team through the tournament.
However, U.S.-based Felmas Adhiambo Koranga will sit out despite her being in the country as she is nursing an injury.
"It is a blow to our plans to miss Koranga. She is one of the best players in Africa," said Owino.
Kenya is currently ranked 22nd in Africa and only the best seven teams will join host Morocco in the Africa Games in Rabat in August.
