National men and women’s 3×3 U23 basketball teams left the country on Sunday, 13 September, for Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, where they face a tough test at this year’s World Cup scheduled for Tuesday, 15 to Saturday, 19 September.
Under the tutelage of Tony Ochieng (men) and Eunice Ouma (women), the two sides have set their sights on advancing to the knockout stages despite facing tough opposition in the group stage.Ochieng’s charges have been placed in Pool C alongside Algeria, France, Poland and Australia. The women’s team, meanwhile, will compete in Pool D against the United States, Japan, Slovenia and Australia.Disappointing World Ultimate result only adds more fuel to the fire, says Ewoi”
Kenya’s qualification follows a strong campaign in the FIBA Africa 3×3 U23 Nations League, where the teams gained valuable competitive experience and earned the opportunity to represent the country on the global stage. Participation in the World Cup marks another important milestone in the continued growth of 3×3 basketball in Kenya,” the federation writes, while flagging off the squad.The men’s team was crowned gold medalists at the Africa East Conference Champions at the FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League in Mombasa in July 2026, directly booking their ticket to the World Cup.
Read Also: Tusker to face Tanzanian outfit in final round of CAF Confederation Cup qualifiers
The women’s team, however, finished as runners-up in Mombasa but sustained high performance in regional tournaments, gathering strong cumulative points to secure one of the coveted overall ranking wildcards to fill the 20-team World Cup field in Wuhan.”The championship will provide the players with valuable international exposure and ranking points while strengthening Kenya’s pathway towards future continental and global competitions, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The Kenya Basketball Federation commends the players and technical officials for their commitment, discipline and hard work throughout the preparation period,” the federation statement continues. While the World Cup does not offer a direct qualification spot to the LA 2028 Olympic Games, it serves as a critical path for teams to accumulate the ranking points required to get there.