Thursday, February 26
*Angola Vs Uganda – 9pm
*Mali Vs Egypt – 12am
Uganda men’s national basketball team, the Silverbacks, face an uphill task when they start their 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualification campaign against Angola on Thursday in Alexandria, Egypt.
Besides African Champions Angola, Uganda also have Zone Five rivals Egypt and last year’s Afrobasket finalists Mali in a tough group.
The Silverbacks, underdogs in the group, were earlier dealt with the first blow after new head coach Goran Lojo pulled out after the Bosnian called in sick.
The team that has been in Alexandria for about a week, will now be under the stewardship of Assistant coach Mande Juruni.
“It’s not about the training we have had here, but the most important thing is that 99% of the players have been active in different leagues,” said Juruni.
Uganda must behind their woeful Afrobasket campaign last year where they failed to win a single game in Angola.
Juruni added: “We were just together just a couple of months ago (at Afrobasket), and that’s helps a lot.”
And the team will miss stars Arthur Kaluma, Ishmail Wainright and Brandon Davis, not to mention local-based stars Tonny Drilleba, Jimmy Enabu and James Okello who have formed a core of the squad in recent years.
But German-based Nike Sbande, the naturalised American born guard, was added on the roster and will carry the burden from the back court.
Juruni, on Sibande’s quality, stated: “This game has changed a lot in that you rely more on creativity of the player and what he brings to the team, and Sibande gives us everything.
“He can score by himself, and he can find open teammates. One of the problems we encountered at Afrobasket is that we lacked that creativity especially from the guards. And him being in the team solves a lot of our problems.”
Angola are overwhelming favourites having won their 12th African title (Afrobasket) last year in August. They will be led by reigning AfroBasket MVP Childe Dundao.
Juruni commented: “We have to be ready, we have played two of these teams before at Afrobasket, we need to come out here and compete and I believe we have a good group. We have to respect Angola, they are African champions, but we have to be mentally and physically prepared for the battle.”
Angola beat Uganda 82-49 back in 2023 when the two sides last met at the World Cup Qualifiers in Luanda.
The top three teams in the group, after facing each other twice (once in each window), will advance to the Second Round of the African Qualifiers as teams search for tickets to 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar.
Rosters
Uganda – Robinson Opong, Fayed Baale, Kayira Joel, Titus Odeke, Deng Geu, Kamagum Jonathan, Peter Obleng, Joel Rugette, Sibande DeJur, Edgar Munaba, Duncan Lubwama, Lubowa Naseef.
Angola – Childe Dundao, Custodio Germano, Afonso Diogo, Gerson Goncalves, Selton Miguel, Jeovane Kassange, Timoteo Txin, Eduardo Francisco, Milton Valente, Bamba Cisse, Daniel Lubambuka, Willy Kongola, Joao Fernandes, Aboubakar Gakou, Macachi Braz, Islando Manuel, Jose Tando, Lucas Bondo, Bruno Fernando, Silvio Sousa, Kevin Kokila, Cleusio Castro, Gilson Martins, Keven Albino, Wilson Cassav.