Kenya’s national men’s basketball team has moved up three places in the Africa continental ranking, while the women’s side remains static due to a lack of international build-up and exposure matches, according to the latest Fiba rankings released by global sportswear multinational, Nike.
The men’s team has risen to 16th position with 98.7 points, up from 19th, as revealed in the Fiba rankings shared with Nike and obtained by People Sport yesterday from the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF).
Meanwhile, the United States has topped the global standings for the past 10 years.
Kenya now ranks ahead of Libya, Morocco and Congo, while South Sudan holds the top spot in the Africa continental rankings with 481 points. They are followed by Egypt with 392.3 points and Angola in third place.
Nigeria, whose women’s team impressed against the formidable US team during the Paris 2024 Olympics, is ranked sixth in Africa with 299.7 points. Cape Verde, Senegal, Cameroon and Guinea hold the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth positions, respectively.
In the women’s category, Kenya’s national team remains in 11th place in Africa with 108.5 points. They have been surpassed by neighboring Uganda and Rwanda, who are ranked in the same zone.
KBF Secretary-General Angela Luchivya agreed that Kenya needs to participate in more international championships to improve its rankings.
Nigeria tops the Africa women’s category with 631.0 points, followed by Mali with 326.7 points, and Senegal in third with 295.4 points. Mozambique is fourth with 215.6 points, Cameroon fifth with 180.9 points, and Egypt sixth with 180.1 points.
Angola is ranked seventh with 163.5 points, Côte d’Ivoire is eighth with 144.5 points, Uganda is ninth with 126.7 points, and Rwanda rounds out the top 10 with 115.5 points.
Globally, the USA women’s team retains the top spot after winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Fiba rankings report, released by Nike, stated: “In a truly absorbing and memorable competition played out in front of record-breaking crowds, USA secured their stunning 10th title and their 8th in a row, keeping them top of the rankings with 883.3 points.”
France, Nigeria and Germany are highlighted as major climbers in this latest Fiba world ranking for women.
France has jumped four places to third after a captivating run to the final, losing by just one point to the USA and claiming the silver medal, equaling their best-ever Olympic result.
China is ranked fourth with 700 points, Spain fifth with 694.9 points, Belgium sixth with 684.1 points and Canada ninth with 658 points.
