The unbeaten run is over, but the dream remains very much alive. For the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) ladies’ basketball team, Tuesday night in Cairo was less about a loss and more about a calibration against the continent’s gold standard.

Facing the defending African champions, Ferroviário de Maputo, in their final Group B clash, the Dockers held their own for three quarters before fading in the final stretch to fall 91-76. The defeat, while stinging, does not derail their campaign; KPA had already punched their ticket to the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) quarter-finals thanks to dominant victories earlier in the week.

A Game of Two Halves

Inside the Prince Abdallah Al Faisal Sports Hall, the Kenyan champions looked ready to cause an upset. Led by American import Sara Nicole Dickey and the tireless Malian guard Aminata Samassekou, KPA went toe-to-toe with the Mozambican giants. At halftime, the Dockers were within striking distance, and they trailed by just three points (65-62) heading into the final quarter.

But championship pedigree often reveals itself in the dying minutes. Ferroviário, led by the 2019 MVP Ingvild Mucauro (17 points), shifted gears in the last five minutes. They forced turnovers and capitalized on KPA’s fatigue, closing the game with a clinical efficiency that the Kenyans could not match.

“If you look at the score, you might think we were outplayed, but for 35 minutes, we were right there,” said KPA Head Coach Nabil Kabalan. “The difference was execution under pressure. They have been here before; they know how to close out games. Now, we know exactly what level we need to reach for the knockouts.”

The Kenyan Lens: Why This Matters

For the average Kenyan fan, KPA’s presence in the last eight is already a victory. After missing the 2024 continental showpiece in Dakar, the Dockers’ return to the elite stage restores Kenya’s footprint in African basketball. This isn't just about a trophy; it's about visibility for Kenyan talent like Mercy Wanyama and Natalie Mwangale, who are showcasing their skills to international scouts.

• Group B Record: 2 Wins, 1 Loss (Finished 2nd).
• Key Stat: KPA committed 24 turnovers against Ferroviário—a number Kabalan knows must drop in the quarter-finals.
• Top Performers: Sara Dickey (23 pts vs F.A.P) and Alexus Johnson (19 pts vs First Bank) remain the team's offensive engines.

No Room for Error

The group stage offered a safety net; the quarter-finals do not. By finishing second in Group B, KPA avoids the top seed from their own pool but will likely face a formidable opponent from Group A. The technical bench must now address the defensive lapses that allowed Ferroviário to score 29 points in the fourth quarter alone.

“We have seen their speed, we have felt their physicality,” Kabalan added, emphasizing the value of the loss. “It is better to learn this lesson now than in a knockout game where there is no tomorrow.”

As the team rests and reviews game tape in Cairo, the mood in the camp is one of focused determination. The "baptism of fire" is over. Now, the real tournament begins.