The Uganda men’s national basketball team, the Silverbacks, have started their 2025 Afrobasket campaign with an 88-53 loss to one-time champions Senegal at the Helmarc Arena in Luanda, Angola.
Senegal, bronze medalists in the last edition, fielded a new-look squad under Coach Ngagne De Sagana Diop, and set the tone early, taking a 30-18 lead after the first quarter and stretching it to 44-30 at halftime.
They maintained control to lead 60-39 by the third quarter and closed out the game strongly.
Makhtar Gueye and Jean-Jacques Boissy each scored 16 points for Senegal, with Gora Camara adding 14.
Uganda’s Deng John Geu was the game’s top scorer with 17 points, while Jackson Moni added 10, but their efforts were not enough to turn the tide.
The Silverbacks went into the tournament after a 10-day training camp in South Africa, led by new captain Robinson Opong in the absence of Ishmail Wainright and Arthur Kaluma.
Uganda, pitted in Group D with Mali and Egypt, will face Mali on Thursday and Egypt on Saturday as they aim to better their sixth-place finish from 2021.
Senegal on the other hand, showed their intent to challenge for the title again, and will hope their form continues when they take on Egypt and Mali on Thursday and Saturday respectively.
