Uganda’s Silverbacks have been drawn into Group D of the African Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, reigniting familiar rivalries with Mali, Angola, and Egypt in the journey to Qatar.
The draw was conducted on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar, setting the stage for the 16 African teams to battle for five coveted spots at the global showpiece.
Uganda’s path is challenging but familiar, having faced both Mali and Angola in recent qualifiers.
The qualification will unfold in six windows across 15 months, beginning in November 2025 and concluding in March 2027.
The Silverbacks will begin their campaign on February 26, 2026, away to Angola, followed by back-to-back home games against Mali and Egypt.
Uganda has shown growth in recent cycles, failing to get past the first round in 2019 but making the second round in the 2023 qualifiers.
Head coach Mandy Juruni is expected to lean on a core group of home-based talent supplemented by a few foreign-based stars.
In the first round, Uganda will play each opponent twice. The top three teams from each group progress to the second round, where the final five qualifiers for the World Cup will be decided.
The Silverbacks aim to make history by reaching their first-ever World Cup.
With a challenging draw and a long road ahead, Uganda’s basketball faithful will hope their team rises to the occasion and etches a new chapter in the nation’s sporting story.
