Uganda’s Silverbacks slipped to a second straight defeat in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers after losing 84 to 73 against Mali in Group D at the Borg El Arab Arena on Friday night.
Uganda appeared in control for long stretches and led by as many as 10 points in the third quarter.
At 61 to 58 with under two minutes left in the period, the Silverbacks were on course to close strong.
Instead, they were hit by an 11 to 0 run that turned the game on its head. Mali flipped a three point deficit into a 69 to 61 lead by the end of the quarter and never looked back.
Nike Sibande delivered a near complete performance for Uganda, finishing with 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. He sparked a key 10 to 0 run late in the second quarter that erased a double digit deficit and brought the Silverbacks back within one point at 43 to 42.
Robinson Opong added 24 points, knocking down five three pointers and stretching Mali’s defence during a sharp scoring burst that bridged the first and second quarters. His outside shooting kept Uganda within reach even as momentum shifted late.
Uganda led for 12 minutes and 18 seconds compared to Mali’s 26 minutes and 15 seconds. The Silverbacks’ biggest lead came twice in the third quarter at 57 to 47 and 59 to 49, but they struggled to contain Mali’s guards down the stretch and were limited to two free throws during the decisive run.
After back to back losses in Alexandria, Uganda now face hosts Egypt on Monday at midnight in their final game of the window.
