Kenya's two successive victories over Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo have pushed them to an impressive second position in group B behind defending champions Mali as the 10th Africa junior nations basketball championships for women enter crucial stages in Tunisia.

Kenya, who beat DR Congo 56-49 after another 56-55 victory over Nigeria now have six points, same as Guinea, but have a better goal average.

Kenya has scored 207 points against Gunieas 195 in the four matches the teams have played so far.

Mali are unbeaten and lead the group with maximum eight points. Angola are placed fourth with five points.

Nigeria and DR Congo, who both lost to Kenya, have one match in hand each and have four points in position five and six in group B.

Hot favourites

With Mali, Kenya and Guinea confortable in the quarter finals, the battle for the remaining one ticket remains between Nigeria, Congo and Angola. Nigeria, who were due to play Angola yesterday in a must win match, are hot favourites to win the remaining quarter final spotHosts Tunisia continue to lead group A with six points followed by Mozambique with five same with Cort D Voire and Benin but separated on goal average.

Uganda who are yet to win a match are last in the group with three points from the three lost matches.

In group B matches played on Teusday ,Guinea beat Angola 64-46 while Mali hammered Nigeria 83-38.

Kenya's 56-48 win over the DR Congo sent them into the quarter finals on Tuesday.

The Kenyans, whose agressive full court press tactics have served them well, were all over the otherwise experienced Congolese taking a deserved 15-06 first quarter lead.

They however, got a huge blow early in the second quarter when star guard Helen Oketch got a huge cut on the forehead and had to be rushed to hospital for stictches.

Joyce Misita who stepped in for Oketch never dissapointed putting alot of pressure on Congo as Kenya led 31-16 at the break.

On fire

Onform Mildred Olumasi, who scored a game high 22 points, was on fire scoring every perimetre shot on sight leading Kenya to a huge 46-28 lead in the third quarter.

Other scorers for Kenya were Purity Adhiambo 12 points, Debra Obunga 10 points while Joyce Misita and Everlyne Adhiambo had four each.

Muganza Mireille was Congo's top scorer with 19 points while Masini Idrissa managed only nine points for DR Congo who easily defeated Angola 58-28 on Monday.

The Kenyans started the tournament as underdogs judging by the country's past performance at the international scene but have since become the darlings of the crowds here.

The team's agressive full court press has given their opponents a difficult time. The Mali coach admitted that he has yet to find a formular to counter Kenya's play.

Against the All Africa games champions Nigeria for example, Kenya took the lead from the start and never gave their opponents the slighttest chance to recover.

With start forward Purity Adhiambo in foul trouble from as early as the second quarter, the kenyan squad of Helen Oketch, Mildred Olumasi, Joyce Misita, Everlyne Adhiambo, Mercy Ettyang and Debra Obunga kept their cool to teach the West Africans whom Kenya has never beaten in the past some simple basketball lessons.

Kenyans living in Tunisia who were joined by Betty Cherwon, first secretary in the Kenyan embassy in Cairo gave kenyans a rear treat after the win which left the Nigerians in tears.

In other matches played yesterday, Benin came from behind to beat Uganda 52-48 while DR Congo oustcored Angola 58-28.

In other group B matches programmed for today, Nigeria take on Angola, while DR Congo entertain Guinea in matches which could as well decide the other group qualifiers to the qurter finals.

Group A matches will see six man Uganda take on Mozambique while group leader Tunisia who are yet to lose a match take on Cort de Voire.