Cairo — Kenya hit Tunisia 64-58 to top group A as the Fiba Africa under-18 girls championships entered crucial stages at the Cairo National Stadium in Egypt on Saturday.

It was a surprise defeat for the North African who finished second in the last edition of the championships in Tunisia after beating Kenya in the quarter finals.

A motivated Kenyan team took the game very seriously and led through out the encounter at one time leading the Tunisia team by 22 points.

They led 17-11 in the first quarter with superb contribution of Bulimo Secondary school girl Natali Akinyi, US bound Purity Auma and US based Mildred Olumasi and went ahead to stretch the lead to 31-22 at the break.

They outscored Tunisia 20-14 in the third quarter to lead 51-36 but immediately lost concentration on the defence allowing Tunisia's Houda Hamrouni and Innesben Chickh to nail three pointers at will as Tunisia took the fourth qurater 22-13, too little too late to salvage them from the imminent defeat.

Purity Auma once again led the scorecard with 32 points, Mildred Olumasi had 11 points while Helen Oketch had 8 points.

Tunisia had Houda Hamroun score 21 points while Chaima Ben had 12 points while Inesben Chichk managed eight points.

Kenya play Senegal in their last preliminary match which a win will see them finish second in the group.

In another group A match played at the same venue, Senegal who were beating 89-31 by hosts Egypt surrendered a 21 points lead to lose 71-60 after a spirited fightback by the Angolans who had lost to Kenya 74-72 in the previous encounter.

The other matches saw Cote D Ivoire get a walkover against RD Congo who had not arrived at the time of the match.