NAIROBI (Kenya) - Excitement is mounting as this year's Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) Zonal 5 Qualifiers begin on Sunday 9 November and run until Saturday 15 November.
The competition has attracted teams from hosts Kenya, who will be represented by 2023 Zone champions and continental silver medalists Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and debutants Zetech Sparks. Other participants will come from Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and Uganda. KPA are looking to bounce back from their 2024 show, where they lost the semis to eventual champions Al Ahly Sporting and the third-place game to Rwanda's APR, to miss out on the continental showpiece.
Ahead of the 2025 qualifiers, the Antony Ojukwu-led team spent two weeks in Johannesburg playing build-up matches.
They are looking to return to the zonal and continental podium, a feat they last achieved in 2023 when they finished as silver medallists in Alexandria.
The Kenyan champions have made several key additions to their squad, including Senegalese centre Aminata Ly. She was named the best rebounder at the 2024 WBLA, where she played for Rwanda Energy Group (REG) in her debut season of African club basketball.
Also returning to KPA is Ifunanya Okoro, winner of the Nigerian Women's AfroBasket, who played for Alexandria Sporting Club in the 2024 WBLA. The two international players are joined by Kenya Lionesses stars Mercy Wanyama and Betty Kananu — all of whom are no strangers to this stage or to KPA.
The Kenyan champions are joined by the Sparks, who are making their debut after sitting out the 2023 competition despite finishing second in the Kenyan league under the leadership of Maurice Obilo.
Meanwhile, REG — who won both the 2025 Rwanda Cup and the league title — and their rivals APR will represent the 2023 Zone 5 hosts at the competition, heading there as favourites.
Last year, under Julian Martinez, REG took silver in Zone 5 but could not replicate this success at continental level, finishing sixth. This was a drop from the 2023 edition, in which they made their debut with a fourth-place finish.
Ahead of the Nairobi event, REG have strengthened their squad by recruiting American guard Kayana Traylor, as well as two former KPA players: Chantal Kiyobe and Grace Irebu Mali, the reigning Kenyan league Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Elsewhere, WBLA bronze medallists APR, who placed third in last year's zonal qualifiers and made it to the continental competition on a wildcard, will be battling it out for an automatic qualifying slot this year.
Last year, the Charles Mushumba-led team included some of the best players, including the returning Italee Lucas, Shaina Pellington and Kamba Yoro Diakite. This trio was crucial in securing the military team's continental debut and podium finish.
Lucas will be joined by former championship MVP Yacine Diop, who last featured in the competition in 2023 for the champions, Alexanderia Sporting Club. Also joining the squad is the American player A'Lexxus Davis, who has played for six teams from four continents over the last eight seasons and will bring her experience to the team.
Meanwhile, Tanzania’s Fox Divas, Burundi’s Les Hippos and Gladiators, and Uganda's Magic Stormers will also be competing at the Nyayo Gymnasium.
FIBA