Asinde, who earlier this year led Uganda to the tournament with an MVP performance in the Zone 5 qualifiers, continued her red-hot form against the continent’s top teams.

She averaged 15.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game over the course of the competition, topping Uganda’s stats sheet and ranking among the best all-round performers at the tournament.

Her efficiency rating of 17.6 was the highest among the Zone 5 champions and one of the best in the entire field.

Asinde’s consistent leadership and tireless two-way play stood out, even as Uganda struggled against more experienced sides in the latter rounds.

The All-Star team included Nigeria’s Amy Okonkwo—who won her second consecutive tournament MVP—alongside Senegal’s Cierra Dillard, South Sudan’s Delicia Washington, and Mali’s Sika Koné.

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The Gazelles showed real fight after a shaky first half, where they were outscored 25-5 in the second quarter and trailed 47-24 at the break.

The Ivorians stretched their lead to 65-43 late in the third, but Uganda refused to go down quietly.

Jane Asinde and company launched an 8-0 run to end the third quarter at 65-51, then continued the push to get within 71-69 with just over a minute to play. However, a few late fouls allowed the Elephants to pull away and seal seventh place.

Despite the loss, captain Asinde struck a hopeful tone.

“Coming here and representing the country has been a learning curve,” she said.

“We picked up a few small things that would’ve seen us go further if we got them right. But we’ve got a talented squad with a bright future. Some of the players might even earn pro deals from this. I’m proud of how far we came.”

Uganda finished eighth overall, matching their placement from 2023.

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These four African nations will join 20 other teams from around the world to compete for 16 spots in the World Cup, which will be held in Germany.

While Mali and Nigeria’s advancement was expected, Senegal and South Sudan’s qualification was a surprise, as they overcame earlier setbacks in the tournament.

Meanwhile, group winners Uganda and Côte d’Ivoire were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

The qualifying tournaments are set for March of next year, where the final field for the 2026 Women’s World Cup will be determined.

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After a confident start, Uganda looked poised to take control, jumping out to a 15-6 lead in the opening minutes. But their rhythm was quickly disrupted by South Sudan’s response from deep. A barrage of three-pointers flipped the momentum and had the Gazelles chasing for the rest of the game.

Despite a brief third-quarter resurgence that gave Uganda a one-point lead heading into the fourth, the final minutes came down to composure. And when it mattered most, the Gazelles blinked. Melissa Akullu missed two critical free throws with six seconds left, sealing the game for South Sudan.

Uganda had come into the tournament riding high after winning both of their group stage games and earning a two-day rest before the quarterfinal. But on the night, they struggled to find consistency from the free-throw line, converting only 15 of 25 attempts, and were outscored in the paint 38-26.

With key forward Hope Akello benched early due to foul trouble, the Gazelles lost an important presence on both ends of the court. The absence was felt as South Sudan’s physicality and hustle dominated the inside game, while their shooters kept finding just enough rhythm to stay ahead.

Akullu led Uganda with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Jannon Otto added 14 points in a tireless performance. But it wasn’t enough to counter South Sudan’s depth and clutch execution, particularly from guard Delicia Washington, who finished with 17 points.

The Gazelles will now shift focus to classification matches, but this loss will sting.

A semifinal berth—and a guaranteed spot in the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers—was within reach. For now, Uganda will reflect on what could have been, especially in a game decided by a single point and missed free throws.

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Uganda head into the matchup riding a wave of momentum after stunning 11-time champions Senegal 73-70 in overtime to top Group C.

That result earned them an automatic berth in the Last Eight. Paige Robinson was the hero that night, hitting a game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer before finishing with 19 points. Captain Jane Asinde (18), Hope Akello (15), and Claire Lamunu (10) also delivered big performances in what was hailed as one of Uganda’s greatest basketball victories.

South Sudan, on the other hand, arrive in the quarters with history already made.

They beat Egypt 75-65 to register their first-ever AfroBasket win and, with it, sealed a place in the last eight.

The comeback win saw Maria Teresa Gakdeng produce one of the tournament’s standout performances—24 rebounds and 19 points in just over 38 minutes—as the Bright Starlets erased a 19-point deficit and stormed into control in the second half.

Both teams are riding high emotionally. For Uganda, the goal is to build on the Senegal scalp and reach their first-ever AfroBasket semifinal. For South Sudan, it’s about writing yet another chapter in a fairytale debut that few expected.

Thursday’s clash will also serve as a Zone 5 grudge match. The two sides are familiar foes in regional qualifiers, but this will be their biggest meeting yet, on the continental stage, with a ticket to the final four at stake.

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Paige Robinson emerged as the heroine of the night, sinking a clutch three-pointer to force overtime before finishing with a team-high 19 points to propel Uganda to one of their most significant wins in tournament history.

The Gazelles started strong, dictating the tempo early to take a 17-16 first-quarter lead before stretching their advantage to 37-28 by halftime.

However, Senegal roared back in the third quarter, outscoring Uganda 21-8 to flip the game on its head (49-45).

With the game slipping away in the dying seconds, Robinson stepped up when it mattered most, draining a cold-blooded three pointer to tie the game at 61-61 and send it into overtime.

The Gazelles then held their nerve in the extra period, grinding out a historic 73-70 win to secure top spot in Group C and an automatic quarterfinal berth.

Alongside Robinson’s heroics, captain Jane Asinde (18 points), assistant captain Hope Akello (15 points), and Claire Lamunu (10 points) all delivered crucial contributions in a hard-fought team effort.

The win marks another milestone for the rapidly improving Gazelles, who had already announced their intentions with an 88-51 thrashing of Guinea in their opener, and beat Senegal in 2023 in Rwanda where they finished 7th.

Uganda now advances directly to the quarterfinals, avoiding the classification rounds, but for Senegal, the loss means they must navigate the classification rounds to keep their title hopes alive.

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Both sides come into the game unbeaten, having comfortably dispatched Guinea in their respective openers.

Uganda outclassed the West Africans 88-51 in a dominant performance on Sunday, while Senegal cruised to a 92-48 win on Saturday.

The winner of today’s clash will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the loser will have to navigate the classification round for a place in the last eight.

The Gazelles were imperious in their opener, with forward Melisa Akullu delivering a standout performance.

She led all scorers with 26 points and added 7 rebounds in just 22 minutes of action. Uganda set the tone early, racing to a 29-19 lead in the first quarter before tightening the screws defensively to take a 45-31 advantage into halftime.

A 22-0 run in the third quarter all but buried Guinea’s hopes, as Nick Natuhereza’s side stamped their authority on the contest.

Skipper Jane Asinde was equally instrumental, finishing with 15 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds, while Perus Nyamwenge, playing as a makeshift point guard, contributed 7 assists and 4 steals in a commanding team performance.

“We knew we needed to secure that win because we have Senegal next, and from then on, the games only get tougher,” said Akullu after the Guinea game.

“Our coaching staff prepared us well, and we came with the right mindset. I’m glad we got the job done.”

But Monday’s challenge is far more formidable. Senegal remain the most decorated team in the competition’s history with 11 titles, even though their last triumph came in 2015.

Since then, the Lionesses have suffered three painful final defeats to Nigeria, including the 2023 edition in Kigali.

Now under the guidance of head coach Otis Hughley Jr., the tactician who led Nigeria to two of their four consecutive AfroBasket titles, Senegal are a team hungry to reclaim their spot at the top of African women’s basketball.

Their pedigree, depth, experience, and physicality make them firm favourites, but Uganda have shown they are not to be underestimated.

“We beat Senegal in 2023, but this is a different team, and the game has grown,” Akullu said ahead of Monday’s clash.

“We’re coming in with a new mindset. We want to take care of the little things: rebound, follow the game plan, execute on both ends of the floor, and if we do that, we can compete.”

Uganda are making their fourth appearance at the Women’s AfroBasket. After finishing 9th in 1997 and 10th in 2015, the Gazelles broke through to finish 7th in 2023.

Now, with a win against Senegal, they can take a huge step toward improving on that mark and cementing their place among the continent’s elite.

The match will be played at the Sports Palace of Treichville in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, tipping off at 3 PM EAT.

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After torching Guinea for 26 points and 7 rebounds in Uganda’s 88-51 win on Saturday, the Portugal-based center made it clear the Gazelles aren’t getting comfortable.

“Our coaches had us ready before the tournament and we knew we needed this win,” Akullu said after the game in Abidjan.

“We play Senegal next and from there it only gets tougher. We came in locked in, played for each other, and I’m proud we got the result.”

Uganda’s win over Guinea was dominant in every way—from a 22-0 third quarter run to a 48-10 advantage in points off turnovers.

But Akullu knows that Senegal, who Uganda famously beat in 2023, will be an entirely different challenge.

“We beat them last time, yes, but this is a new team. The game has grown. We’re coming in with a new mindset,” she said.

“We want to take care of the little things—follow the game plan, rebound, execute on both ends. If we do that, we’ll be able to compete.”

Uganda face Senegal today, Monday 28 July, at 3 PM, in what could be the group’s defining matchup. A win would send the Gazelles straight to the quarterfinals. A loss would push them into the Classification Round.

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“This was a good start. We expected Guinea to come out strong and they did early on, but we stayed composed, followed our structure, and took control,” he said after the match.

While proud of the win, Natuhereza emphasized that this was just the beginning.

“This result sets the tone for the rest of the group stage. We know what’s coming next—Senegal. It’s a tougher opponent, but this win puts us in a strong position heading into that battle.”

Uganda’s depth, defense, and ability to punish mistakes were key highlights, and the coach noted how every player contributed.

“That’s what you need at this level,” he said. “We’ll build on this and prepare for the test ahead.”

Melissa Akullu was the standout performer, dropping 26 points and 7 rebounds, while Jane Asinde chipped in with 15 points, 7 assists, and 5 boards.

Uganda forced Guinea into 39 turnovers, converting those into 48 points, and also dominated the paint 46-12.

Uganda face Senegal next on Monday at 3 PM East African Time.

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It was a powerful statement from the Gazelles, who controlled the game from the second quarter onward, thanks to relentless pressure and a deep scoring bench.

A 22-0 burst in the third quarter put the result beyond doubt.

Melissa Akullu was the standout performer, dropping 26 points and 7 rebounds, while Jane Asinde chipped in with 15 points, 7 assists, and 5 boards.

Uganda forced Guinea into 39 turnovers, converting those into 48 points, and also dominated the paint 46-12.

This was the third time the two sides have met at AfroBasket. Guinea edged the first meeting 53-52 in 2015, but Uganda have now won the last two, including a 41-point blowout in 2023.

Guinea, now 0-2 in the group, must win their next game to stay alive in the tournament.

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