The Uganda Junior Gazelles made a powerful statement on opening day of the FIBA U18 Women’s Afrobasket Championship in South Africa, securing an impressive 85-36 victory against Zimbabwe.
The Junior Gazelles, who are the reigning FIBA U18 Zone V champions showed no signs of slowing down as they continued their winning momentum on the continental stage.
Led by the dynamic trio of Resty Nanangwe, Mia Alaba Belinda, and Shiphrah Kiranda, the Junior Gazelles dominated their Group C opponents throughout the game.
Nanangwe put on a stellar performance, amassing 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 steals. Not to be outdone, Alaba Belinda contributed a solid 23 points, while Kiranda recorded 10 rebounds and showcased her defensive prowess with 5 steals.
The victory sets a positive tone for Uganda, who are pitted in a challenging Group C, which includes basketball powerhouses Egypt and Nigeria.
Egypt, fresh off a 72-60 win over Nigeria, looms as the Junior Gazelles’ next formidable opponent, the two facing off on Thursday, September 5.
In other Day One action, Tunisia outpaced Cameroon 73-59, while Rwanda, who lost to Uganda in the FIBA U18 Zone V final in June, delivered a statement performance with a resounding 102-37 victory over hosts South Africa.
The 12-team tournament, which is running until September 13, follows a round-robin group stage before transitioning to a knockout phase.
Only the top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
The finalists of this year’s FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket will represent Africa at next year’s FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in the Czech Republic.
