Kenya defeat South Sudan to finish third

Zone V Qualifiers action between Kenya (red) and the Gazelles at the MTN Arena in Lugogo | Photo by Samuel Ssensaga

ZONE V QUALIFIERS Kenya defeat South Sudan to finish third

Ndyamuhaki J Emanzi 15:27 - 19.02.2023

If you are South Sudan, playing at only your second-ever tournament, every small win matters. And from this year's Fiba women's Zone V AfroBasket Qualifiers, they will take home their first ever win in competitive basketball.

If you are South Sudan, playing at only your second-ever tournament, every small win matters. And from this year's Fiba women's Zone V AfroBasket Qualifiers, they will take home their first ever win in competitive basketball.

That 54-40 win over Rwanda will stay in South Sudan's women's basketball history books. The tournament could have wrapped up even better had they managed to beat Kenya in the bronze game on Sunday.

But the Lionesses won the game 64-30 to finish third. South Sudan was without some of their key players. Just eight players suited up for the team's final game in Kampala.

Rose Akon, Adut Bulgak and Teny Nyamuoch all watched from the bench with knocks from the previous games. Kenya led 06-02 early in the first quarter, but Ebony Hoffman's charges fought back to go up 07-06.

The Lionesses limited South Sudan to a mere five points and created a 13-point difference (29-16) going into the halftime break.

And the second half was all about completing the job for George Mayienga's side. Again, Madina Okot led the way for Kenya, pouring in a game-high 18 points and collecting 16 rebounds.

Victoria Reynolds got ten and was the only other Kenyan to score in double figures. Perina Leime scored 10 points and picked nine rebounds for South Sudan.

The victory is a mere consolation for Kenya, who saw their chances of defending the title vanish with that loss to Egypt on Saturday.

Bronze game result 

Kenya 64-30 South Sudan