KPA Begins EABCC Campaign Against Burundi's Les Hippos

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) men's basketball team is set to tip off its 2025 East Africa Basketball Championship Cup (EABCC) campaign today, Monday, October 6, 2025, at the Nyayo Gymnasium in Nairobi. The Dockers will face Burundi's Les Hippos in their opening Group A match, seeking a strong start in the regional tournament.

KPA, who finished as runners-up in the recent Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Men's Premier League, are determined to clinch the regional title after securing a third-place finish in the inaugural EABCC in December 2024.

Context of the 2025 EABCC

The EABCC, founded in 2024 by FIBA Africa, is an annual tournament for men's teams in East Africa, providing a platform for teams that did not qualify for the Road to BAL (Basketball Africa League) as national champions.

The 2025 edition, hosted in Nairobi, will crown a new champion as defending champions Remesha of Burundi are not participating. The tournament features six teams from four countries: three from Kenya (KPA, Ulinzi Warriors, and Umoja Basketball Club), one from Burundi (Les Hippos), one from Tanzania (Stein Warriors), and one from Ethiopia (Gambela City).

The competition has adopted a new format this year, moving from a round-robin system to group and knockout stages. KPA is in Group A alongside Les Hippos and Umoja Basketball Club.

KPA's Preparedness and Key Players

KPA's assistant coach, Mike Opel, expressed confidence in the team's readiness, stating their goal is to reach the final and focus on one game at a time. The team will be bolstered by the return of head coach Sammy Kiki and four key players who recently participated in the FIBA 3x3 World Pro Challenger in Tianjin, China. These players—Martin Buluma, Lennox Wanje, Tobias Odhiambo, and Salim Kisilu—have been instrumental for the Coastal side this season. Kisilu, who was part of the 2024 EABCC dream team, is expected to be a pivotal player for KPA.

KPA previously defeated Les Hippos 76-63 in last year's EABCC, a result the Burundian side will be looking to overturn. Les Hippos finished fourth in the inaugural tournament.

Stakeholder Expectations and Tournament Dynamics

The tournament commenced on Sunday, October 5, 2025, with Kenyan teams Umoja and Ulinzi Warriors securing victories in their opening matches. Umoja defeated Les Hippos 89-79, while Ulinzi Warriors overcame Stein Warriors 73-67. These early results place Umoja at the top of Group A, setting up an intriguing dynamic for KPA's match against Les Hippos and their subsequent clash with Umoja on Tuesday.

Les Hippos, having secured third place in the VBL 2025 Play-Offs, are keen to use this competition as a springboard for continental exposure. They have integrated five players from the 2024 EABCC champions, Remesha BBC, to strengthen their squad.

What to Watch

• KPA's performance in the group stage, particularly their matches against Les Hippos and Umoja, will be crucial for their advancement to the knockout stage.
• The impact of KPA's returning key players and head coach on their overall strategy and execution.
• The pursuit of a new champion in the absence of last year's winners, Remesha.