APR crowned Zone 5 champions as KPA clinch continental spot — Nyayo hosts a statement week for Kenyan women’s basketball
KPA Clinch Bronze, Book Cairo Ticket as Rwandan Giants Dominate Nairobi
The floodlights of a packed Nyayo National Gymnasium dimmed on Saturday, bringing a close to a thrilling, and at times harsh, week of basketball. The 2025 FIBA Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) Zone 5 Qualifiers, held in Nairobi from November 9-15, were a resounding success for the city, but a sobering lesson for its clubs. The WBLA serves as the women’s counterpart to the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Kenyan champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) punched their ticket to the main tournament in Egypt, but they did so the hard way, securing a bronze medal after a dramatic overtime battle. For Kenya’s other representatives, university side Zetech Sparks, the tournament was a valuable, if bruising, debut on the continental stage.
In the end, the tournament belonged to Rwanda. The final was an all-Rwandan affair, a testament to their current dominance in the region. APR were crowned Zone 5 champions after defeating their rivals REG 82-68 in a decisive final.
The Big Picture: A Roaring Crowd, A Rising Bar
For Kenyan basketball, hosting the Zone 5 qualifiers was a massive statement. The “sold-out” crowds at the Nyayo Gymnasium, electric and engaged, proved that the appetite for top-tier basketball is stronger than ever. The event provided local fans with a front-row seat to the best club basketball in the region and gave crucial exposure to Kenyan teams.
However, the tournament also exposed a clear gap. The precision, speed, and tactical depth of the Rwandan clubs set a new benchmark. While Kenya celebrated KPA’s qualification, the final day was a showcase of Rwandan supremacy. For the future of Kenyan basketball, the message is clear: the level has risen, and we must rise with it.
KPA’s Trial by Fire: A Ticket to Cairo
KPA’s journey to qualification was a rollercoaster. Their mission was clear: secure one of the three available spots for the WBLA finals. Mission accomplished, but not without significant drama.
The Dockers, led by coach Antony Ojukwu, finished the tournament with a 4-win, 2-loss record. Their two losses came against the eventual finalists, APR (81-71 in the group stage) and REG (a bruising 62-45 defeat in the semi-final).
Their tournament was defined by a worrying trend of squandering leads. This was most evident in the bronze medal match against Burundi’s Les Hippos. KPA dominated early, building a 21-point lead, only to see it evaporate, forcing a 75-75 stalemate at the final buzzer. The Dockers had to dig deep in overtime, finally pulling away to win 89-81 and secure their spot in the finals.
“We are lucky to have gotten the chance to redeem ourselves in overtime,” KPA guard Natalie Mwangale told FIBA after the match. “We have to take an all-round approach and work on our offense and defense.”
Key KPA Players:
- Aminata Ly: The Senegalese center was a force in the paint, dominating the boards.
- Ifunanya Okoro: The Nigerian international provided critical scoring and playmaking.
- Alima Doumbia: The Ivorian import was a consistent offensive threat.
- Betty Kananu & Natalie Mwangale: The veteran Kenyan guards provided leadership, especially in the clutch overtime period.
Zetech Sparks: A Brave Debut
For the Zetech Sparks, this tournament was always about gaining experience. As debutants, the university team faced a steep learning curve. They finished their campaign with a 1-win, 3-loss record, earning them a 6th-place finish overall.
Their milestone victory came in the group stage, an 84-62 win over Don Bosco Lady Lionesses. They fought hard in their other matches but were overpowered by the more experienced Les Hippos (75-61) and REG (86-44). In their final classification match for 5th place, they fell to Tanzania’s Foxes Divas 67-56.
Despite the losses, the Sparks showed flashes of brilliance, with players like Mary Lisa Omondi (who dropped 22 points in their win) and Christine Akinyi proving they could compete.7 This experience will be invaluable for the team’s development and for the growth of university basketball in Kenya.
The Rwandan Standard: APR and REG
The story of the tournament was the complete dominance of the two Rwandan clubs.
1st Place – APR: The eventual champions were a class apart. Powered by the dynamic Destiney Philoxy and the dominant Kamba Yoro Diakité, APR played with unmatched pace and efficiency, capping off their unbeaten run with the gold medal.
2nd Place – REG: Last year’s zone champions were formidable, dismantling KPA in the semi-final. With former KPA stars Chantal Ramu Kiyobe and Grace Irebu Mali on their roster, alongside the potent Kristina King and Kayana Traylor, they showcased their depth. Their loss to APR in the final was a hard-fought battle that solidified Rwanda’s 1-2 punch in the region.
Final Standings & What’s Next
The three qualifying teams now have a short turnaround to prepare for the main event.
- 1st: APR (Rwanda) – Qualified
- 2nd: REG (Rwanda) – Qualified
- 3rd: KPA (Kenya) – Qualified
- 4th: Les Hippos (Burundi)
- 5th: Foxes Divas (Tanzania)
- 6th: Zetech Sparks (Kenya)
KPA, alongside APR and REG, will now represent Zone 5 at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) finals. The continental championship is set to take place in Cairo, Egypt, starting December 5, 2025.
For KPA, the lesson from Nyayo is clear: they must find a way to protect their leads and execute for a full 40 minutes if they hope to compete with the continent’s elite.
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