Called "Built Within," the initiative will build and refurbish over 10 new courts across Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso over the next three months. The remaining locations, which will be "strategically located in underserved communities," will be revealed in the coming years.
Power forward Felmas Koranga is the notable absentee as she was unable to secure a release from Troy University in the USA. Ivy Opiyo slots into the squad in place of Koranga while Selina Okumu replaces her sister Celia Okumu.
To do so, the likes of Natalie Akinyi, Victoria Reynolds, Mercy Wanyama and co will have to get out of a pool that includes Cameroon and Cape Verde.
"Everybody was hyped up, everybody was ready but they came out and gave the first punch. Give them credit; they did their job. As our coach said, this was the difference of the game," Kenya's Tom Bush Wamukota admitted in the post-game press conference.
With quarterfinal qualification at stake, expect this clash to be as explosive as they get, expect both sides to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, when they face off.
Overall, it was a dominant display from the Morans who now stand a chance of reaching the last eight in Kigali.
The Morans rallied to try to reduce the deficit in the ensuing quarter but it was Nigeria leading 34-26 after the second quarter.
Up next for Morans is a clash against Nigeria at 4.00pm on Friday 27 August before concluding their pool games with a tie against Mali at 1.00pm on Sunday 29 August.
This is the Morans fourth overall apperance,and their first since 1993 when they hosted the tournament and finished fourth overall. They had previously played in the 1985 and 1989 editions, finishing last on both occasions.
The Morans are in Pool C with Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali and the side coached by Australian Liz Mills will be relishing the chance to tough it out with the crème de la crème of African basketball.
