Kenya boys' 3X3 basketball team during the Anoca Youth Games at Kenyatta University/HANDOUT

Kenya’s junior athletes made a promising start to the 2026 Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) Zone V Youth Games in Nairobi, with tennis player Mark Murage and the national 3x3 basketball teams showing early medal potential.

Murage, one of four Kenyan boys selected for the tennis competition alongside Edward Mwakio, Don Kelly and Jyan Patel, won his two singles matches.
He beat Tanzania’s Damiano Hamis Rungu 6-4 7-5 before dispatching Somalia’s Abdallah Mohamed Salah 6-0 6-0.
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Murage credited his success to a clear game plan and ability to settle into matches, with his sliding movement and preferred style of play proving decisive.
“The slides worked best for me. It's the shots I like to play the most. My gamestyle also worked best for me,” Murage said.
He, however, identified closing out points as an area he needs to improve, saying his approach of building points rather than finishing them quickly sometimes allowed opponents back into matches.

“I look to achieve instead of finishing the points quickly. That's what gave one of my opponents a better chance to win,” he added.

In 3x3 basketball, Kenya’s U17 girls also made a winning start, beating South Sudan 17-9, although the men’s Kenya One team fell 21-17 to South Sudan.
Coach Eunice Ouma was pleased with the girls’ execution but said they must improve their two-point shooting and endurance.
“The girls executed the game plan we had,” Ouma said.
She revealed that some players only arrived in Kenya on Monday after competing in Tanzania, limiting their time to build team chemistry.

“We have not had team chemistry but they can adjust with time,” she said.
Kenya are also chasing success in the U21 competition, with Ouma hoping to complete a basketball double as the teams prepare for the Dakar Youth Olympic Games.

U21 player Ruby Abdale said Kenya had grown stronger as the competition progressed, overcoming Ethiopia before beating South Sudan in the final.
“They played really well but we adapted to their game and we won. Representing Kenya is fun and I'm happy we emerged victorious,” Abdale said.

The Anoca Zone V Youth Games at Kenyatta University from August 24 to 28, brings together athletes from 11 countries — Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt.
The Games feature athletics, swimming, 3x3 basketball, judo, cycling, tennis and beach volleyball and provide young athletes with valuable international competition ahead of the Dakar Youth Olympic Games.