Resty Nanangwe pulled out yet another masterclass to help Uganda reach their first-ever FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket Semi-Final. The talented guard scored a game-winning 27 points to help her colors win 69-53.
Last Updated on
September 12, 2024
Jonathan Oriant
Staff Writer
There are games that always go down in history books the clash between Tunisia-Uganda is one of those games. For the first time in their history, Uganda overcame Tunisia, to qualify for the semi-finals of the FIBA U18 Women's AfroBasket.
Resty Nanangwe was the game’s MVP as she carried Uganda to victory with 27 points and 8 rebounds. Immaculate Adongpiny added 12 points and 5 rebounds, while Shiphrah Kiranda contributed 10 points and 9 rebounds to the winning cause.
Uganda had locked up their defense, as they stole the ball a total of 35 times, while Tunisia only managed 16. The East Africans also perfectly exploited Tunisia’s turnovers, as they scored 39 points, while securing another 13 from second chances.
Uganda heavily relied on its capacity to score from inside the paint. Before the game, Tunisia was leading with a 50% success rate from inside the paint, while Uganda only managed 39.3 %.
But the East Africans turned the tables around as they managed a whopping 40 points from inside the paint, while Tunisia could only score 16.
The match got off to a flying start, with Uganda outscoring Tunisia 20-15 in the first quarter. But in the second quarter, the North Africans finished with a 13-12 run.
The teams made it to the half-time with Uganda leading (32-28). The third quarter saw both teams exchange blows, so much so that only one point separated them 47-46, with Uganda still keeping the game under their control.
But it was in the final stanza that the game changed as Uganda scored 22 points, while Tunisia simply crashed with only 7 points.
Immaculate Adongpiny, one of Uganda’s leaders on the floor, couldn’t contain her joy and excitement about making it to the semis.
“I’m so happy for my team. I’m happy to play with such a wonderful team. We’re looking forward to playing better. The most important this is we never gave up. I'm so glad we worked together; we helped each other and we trusted each other.”
Now that they are in the semis, Uganda will look forward to making it to the final.
“I think we can make it to the Finals. We’re good enough to make it there,” she added.
[Photography / Imagery Courtesy of FIBA]
