Kenya’s FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup campaign opened with heartbreak as Algeria clinched a razor-thin 19-18 victory in a tense, down-to-the-wire battle.
The scoreboard told the story of a contest decided by a single point, with neither side able to pull away. Algeria held their nerve in the closing moments to seal the win, leaving Kenya to reflect on what was an agonizingly close result.
Despite the defeat, Kenya’s performance signaled plenty of promise. Matching Algeria basket for basket throughout, the team showed the kind of fight and composure that will serve them well in their remaining fixtures.
The result puts Algeria in a strong early position in the group, while Kenya will look to bounce back quickly and turn narrow margins into wins as the tournament progresses.
For Kenyan basketball fans, the one-point loss will sting — but the display offered real encouragement for what lies ahead.
