Uganda’s U18 women’s basketball team, the Junior Gazelles, narrowly missed out on a spot in the FIBA U19 World Cup 2025 following a 71-67 defeat to Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress in the semi-finals of the FIBA U18 Women’s Afrobasket Championship in Pretoria, South Africa.
The tightly contested game saw Nigeria storm ahead early, but Uganda fought back throughout, keeping the game within reach.
At the end of the first quarter, Nigeria led by just one point, 21-20, thanks to contributions from Doyinsola Lijirin and Momoluwa Ayomide Tewogbade, while Uganda’s Resty Nanangwe dominated the rebounds.
By halftime, Nigeria had extended their lead to 45-39. Nigeria’s Abigail Isaac was crucial, adding 10 rebounds and 8 points, while Bushira Namayanja led the Ugandan charge with 13 points.
Despite Uganda’s attempts to bridge the gap, Nigeria’s efficiency from beyond the arc, scoring six 3-pointers to Uganda’s two, made the difference.
The second half saw Nigeria build on their advantage, leading by as many as 10 points in the final quarter.
However, Uganda refused to give up, with Nanangwe, Christine Namyalo, and Namayanja all contributing to a late rally.
Nanangwe finished with a double-double, posting 16 points and 12 rebounds, but Nigeria’s Idubamo Beggi proved decisive, scoring a game-high 23 points and dishing out 6 assists to secure her side the win.
Despite the loss, Uganda’s journey to the semi-finals remains a significant achievement, with the young team showcasing resilience and promise throughout the tournament.
However, costly turnovers and missed free throws, having converted only 55% compared to Nigeria’s 76% proved to be their undoing in this crucial match.
Uganda will now face Cameroon in the third-place playoff tomorrow, while Nigeria moves on to face defending champions Mali in the final, both finalists earning automatic qualification for the U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2025 in Switzerland.
The third-place playoff will be played at 1 PM, while the final will kick-off at 6:30 PM.
