The Gazelles have booked their place in the final of the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Zone V Qualifiers after a commanding 66-30 victory over Burundi, setting up a decisive clash against hosts Egypt for the tournament’s sole ticket to the continental finals.
Despite a sluggish start that saw them trailing 17-14 after the first quarter, Uganda quickly regained control, allowing Burundi just 13 points for the remainder of the game.
Jamila Nansikombi and Melissa Akullu stepped up with 14 and 12 points, respectively, while Paige Robinson contributed 10 points to cap off an emphatic win.
Head coach Nicholas Natuhereza acknowledged the team’s slow start, attributing it to the emotional high from their previous night’s victory over South Sudan.
“I don’t think we were mentally ready after last night’s big win, and that explains our slow start,” Natuhereza said. “It is also natural to get a little complacent when playing against a team that is not generally considered to be as strong as we are. But I am happy that we did enough to win the game.”
With Uganda finishing second in the round-robin standings, all eyes are now on Saturday’s final against Egypt. The hosts, who remain unbeaten after an 85-64 win over South Sudan, will pose a significant challenge.
While Uganda fell to Egypt 65-62 in their earlier meeting, the narrow loss showed the Gazelles’ ability to match up against the defending champions.
The final presents a fresh opportunity to reverse that result and secure a place at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Ivory Coast.
The Gazelles will have a rest day on Friday before heading into the crucial showdown. With captain Jane Asinde leading the charge, Uganda will look to capitalize on their momentum and produce a performance worthy of qualification.
Tip-off for the final is set for Saturday at the Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall.
