Ugandan Groups Win the FIBA Under-18 Africa Zone V Basketball Championship 

The Ugandan young men’s and young ladies’ groups have won the FIBA U-18 Zone V Basketball 2024. 

The final took place on Friday night at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium. The girls’ team beat Rwanda 82-52, and the boys beat Rwanda 69-66. The Ugandan team, led by Christine Namyalo, won the girls’ final 82-52 after leading 41-24 at halftime.

Resty Nanangwe drove the Lesser Gazelles with 21 points, trailed by Shiphrah Kiranda’s 18. Brigitte Nibishaka and Rebecca Cyuzuzo drove Rwanda in 13 and 12 places, respectively.  

After the game, Rwanda’s captain Solange Umwari told Xinhua, “We failed to match the Ugandan team, and our defending was not good.”

The boys’ final was close, with Rwanda leading 34-29 at the half and losing a 63-56 lead with two minutes left, but Uganda eventually won.

Tejan Joel Rugette, Uganda’s captain and Most Valuable Player (MVP), and Peter Serunjogi each scored 15 points for the Junior Silverbacks, while Dylan Lenson Kayijuka drove Rwanda with 26 places.

Andrew Tendo Senyondwa, Uganda’s head coach, credited teamwork for the victory. “It was a truly challenging last, and our young men needed to keep their nerves to win it as of now, “Senyondwa said.

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Kenya finished third in the young ladies’ end-of-season games after overcoming Tanzania 70-63, and Kenya won the young men’s end-of-season games 79-71.

For the FIBA U-18 African Championship, which will be held in South Africa in August 2024, Uganda’s two teams have officially qualified.