Uganda have qualified for back-to-back FIBA U18 Women's AfroBasket Finals for the fourth consecutive time. After finishing just two steps off the podium, they aim for a higher spot in Africa's youth basketball hierarchy.
Last Updated on
September 1, 2024
When Uganda's U18 women's team overcame their neighbors from Rwanda in the final of the Zone V Qualifiers, everyone remembered the surprising ease with which the Junior Gazelles prevailed.
An 82-52 victory was more than enough for them to return to the FIBA Women's U18 AfroBasket for the fourth consecutive time after 2016, 2018 and 2022.
Playing on home soil for the Zone V Qualifiers, they dominated the competition, beating Rwanda on two occasions (78-40, then 82-52), while overcoming Kenya in between (97-47). That's how confident the Junior Gazelles are.
Uganda have no shortage of talent. Their progress from eighth place in 2018 in Mozambique to fifth place in 2022 in Madagascar is testament to this. .
But will talent be enough against defending champions Egypt and Nigeria, the two forces in Group C?
A standout performer for Junior Gazelles during the 2023 U16 AfroBasket in Tunisia, Maxine Modesta Anyango is now back this time with the U18 squad. She was promoted from the U16 squad from the 2023 U16 Women’s AfroBasket, where she averaged 19.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game to cement herself as the floor general.
Along Anyango are Resty Nanangwe and Shiphrah Kiranda, who both scored double digits in the Zone V Qualifiers Finals. Kiranda also graduated from the U16 squad, where she finished the 2023 Women’s U16 AfroBasket with 12.5 points per game.
The combined talent and skills of this trio could cause some havoc. Uganda are drawn in Group C along with reigning African champions Egypt, Nigeria and newcomers Zimbabwe.
Uganda head to the FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket for the fourth straight time. Their first appearance at FIBA Africa’s flagship event for women youth goes back to 2008. Missing out on the 2010, 2012 and 2016 editions, they came back in 2018, finishing 8th after losing to Rwanda in the classification game for the 7th place.
But the tables have turned, and they have slowly climbed up the ladder, grabbing a fifth-place finish in Madagascar in 2022. Can they climb it further this time?
[Photography / Imagery Courtesy of FIBA]
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