Ezahra Tunis — Kenya junior girls basketball team are determined to upset Tunisia at home when the two meet in the quarter finals of the 10th Africa Nations championships for under 18 women at the Rades indoor courts Friday afternoon.

In this match which will be televised live in Tunisia, the Kenyan girls, who have continued to attract huge crowds because of their aggressive full court press basketball, will be hard pressed to continue with their winning ways against the Tunisians whose matches have not only been filling the Rades indoor courts where they were based, but have also been televised live in all Television stations.

Team Manager Peter Orero who has been doubling as assistant coach said the players were upbeat and would be going for a kill right from the first whistle.He confirmed that star guard Helen Oketch who had to be rushed to hospital with a deep cut in the match against DR congo had fully recovered and would lead the Kenyans onslaught against Tunisia.

Kenya's mainstay in the front court Purity Adhiambo, Debra Obunga and Everlyne Adhiambo have also recovered from slight knocks and are available for selection for this match whose winner will one match away from the World championships to be staged in Bankok ,Thailand next July.

Mildred Olumasi, Kenyas top scorer in all the previous matches could not wait to meet the Tunisians who have not lost a match in their group A campaign.

Great pressure

"I cannot wait to meet the Tunisians whom am sure will be playing under great pressure from their fans. We want to exert even more pressure on them from the kick off," Olumasi a student at Mombasa High School who leaves for Union University in the US in December on a full basketball scholarship said.

Similar sentiments were expressed by team captain Everlyne Adhiambo who said the sky will be the limit when they take on Tunisia and asked Kenyans for prayers in this crucial encounter.

Tunisia who hammered Kenyas next door neighbours Uganda 77-38 in their second match boast of Arrami Zoubaida who at 6.6 feet is the tallest player in the championships and one of the best front court players with well polished post moves and a perimeter shot.

Best three-point shooters

Kenya will have to a close eye on Mechillia Monia and Abdelgani Douha who together with Kenyas Mercy Ettyang and HeleN Oketch have established themselves as the tournaments best three point shooters.

Other players Kenya will have to watch closely in the Tunisia team include Inoubli Lilia,Abdelsami Amel and Aidi Abir who have been very consistent with their scoring.

Other quarter final matches will see defending champions Mali take on Benin, Guinea square it out with Cote d'Ivoire while Nigeria/DR Congo would take on Mozambique.

Uganda and Angola bade the tournament farewell after losing their preliminary matches on Wednesday.

Uganda who were boosted by the arrival of guard Tamale Rashid on Tuesday were humiliated 97-33 by Mozambique in their last preliminary match while Angola were sent packing by Nigeria who hammered them 68-51 in their last preliminary match.