Kenya Morans open their FIBA AfroCan campaign on Saturday with a clash against Ivory Coast in Luanda, Angola.
A total of four games per day have been lined up in the group phase of the 12-team nine-day championships to be held at the Kilamba Arena, on the outskirts of Luanda.
Morans, who are in Pool 'A', jetted out of the country on Thursday. They remain upbeat that they can improve on their last showing in 2019 in Bamako, Mali, where they lost to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final.
Head coach Cliff Owuor was concerned about his three-man position but expressed optimism that the boys, led by captain Victor Bosire and the Mali quartet of Griffin Ligare, Eric Mutoro, Fidel Okoth and Tom Wamukota, will steer the ship.
USA-based Derrick Ogechi, who missed the AfroBasket action in Rwanda in 2021, is going all out to prove a point.
Victor Ochieng and debutants Bramwell Muchina and Eugene Adera will also be key.
Kenya, who played four friendly matches in the build-up are facing an Ivorian side who are still bubbling with confidence after seeing off Nigeria 74-65 to book their ticket to Luanda.
Ivory OCast, who went 3-0 in the regional qualifier, will rely upon their deadly trio of Lionel Kouadio, Ulrich Mohamed Kra and Mike Fofana, who contributed immensely in that win against Nigeria.
The other three matches on the card on the first day of action will see hosts Angola welcome Mali, reigning champions DR Congo take on Cameroon while Rwanda confront Tunisia.
Morans' second match will be against Gabon on Monday.
POOLS
Pool A: Kenya, Gabon, Ivory Coast
Pool B: Angola, Nigeria, Mali
Pool C: Morocco, Tunisia, Rwanda
Pool D: DR Congo, Cameroon, Mozambique
