Following their commanding 83-69 victory over South Sudan, Uganda’s Gazelles have turned their attention to their final group-stage game against Burundi, with head coach Nicholas Natuhereza emphasizing the need for focus and discipline.
Natuhereza acknowledged the importance of bouncing back after the narrow loss to Egypt and urged his team to remain grounded.
“It was an important win after a tough loss to Egypt,” he said. “We need to stay grounded and not undermine any opponent. Every game is crucial, and we must approach Burundi with the same intensity.”
With Uganda sitting second in the standings, a win over Burundi will solidify their chances of making it to the final and securing a ticket to the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket.
Assistant captain Hope Akello echoed Natuhereza’s sentiments, stressing the need for defensive consistency.
“We need to stay focused from the beginning and make sure we don’t have lapses in defense that give away points,” she said.
The Gazelles have leaned heavily on captain Jane Asinde, whose tournament-leading 28-point performance against South Sudan reinforced her status as the team’s talisman.
However, with Burundi posing a different challenge, Uganda will need contributions across the board to ensure another strong outing.
Tip-off against Burundi is set for 6 PM EAT, with the Gazelles aiming to finish the group stage on a high note.
