The Kenya National men Basketball team captain Griffin Ligare has said he is aware of the high expectations from fans ahead of the FIBA Afro Basketball 2021 pre-qualifiers.
The qualifiers are scheduled for Nairobi next week, from 14th - 18th January.
With single slot up for grab, the Morans captain posits that it won't be easy even with the absence of the FIBA Africa Zone 5 dominant forces such as Egypt, Rwanda and Uganda.
Instead, he urged his teammates to give it all, if they want to qualify.
"Expectations are high, it is not going to be an easy tournament. We will have to work hard to book the only ticket. That's a reality," Ligare told FIBA Basketball, in an exclusive interview, at Nyayo national stadium.
The Morans will battle out with Tanzania, Somalia, South Sudan and Eritrea in a five-team pre-qualifiers.
Ligare noted that despite Morans being rated high of the five, South Sudan will be a team to watch and they cannot afford to underrate the other of the teams.
"We will play to qualify not just to participate. There is a good chance," he noted.
Kenya will miss the service of injured Danish-based Tylor Ongwae, whose ability and traits on the court cannot be ignored.
Albeit, Tunisia based, Tom Wamukota will be hoped on to spur the team to the new mileage.
The pre-qualifiers will involve 7 zones in five groups this January across the continents; with the five winners joining the 15 teams in the next round of qualifications.