South Sudan achieved a historic second win in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Zone 5 qualifiers by defeating Kenya 86-69, while Egypt secured a 65-62 victory against Uganda. Both teams are looking to improve as the qualifiers progress, with South Sudan celebrating their milestone win and Egypt maintaining their unbeaten status.
In a historic performance, South Sudan secured their second-ever victory in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Zone 5 qualifiers, defeating Kenya 86-69. This win stands out as the team had previously lost their last three encounters with Kenya. On a parallel note, hosts Egypt maintained their perfect record with a narrow 65-62 triumph over Uganda, showcasing their competitive edge in the tournament.
South Sudan began their match against Kenya strongly, with Delicia Washington scoring 26 points, along with significant contributions from Adut Bulgak and Nyamuoch Teny. Their impressive bench strength, totaling 23 points, contrasted sharply with Kenya’s bench contributions, which were limited to just 3 points. Furthermore, South Sudan displayed efficiency at the free-throw line, making 28 of 33 attempts compared to Kenya’s 11 out of 23.
Coach Alberto Antuna expressed pride in his team’s effort, emphasizing the importance of adapting their defensive strategy in the second quarter to secure the victory. Adut Bulgak acknowledged the journey leading to this win, reinforcing the team’s commitment to striving for further success. Coach George Mayienga indicated that Kenya will focus on improving their performance ahead of their next match against Burundi.
In the matchup between Egypt and Uganda, although Egypt took an early lead, Uganda’s resilience pushed them to narrow the margin significantly. Egypt’s second-quarter struggles allowed Uganda to remain in contention, effectively closing the gap to a single point by halftime. Despite a late comeback by Uganda, crucial plays from Egyptian players Hala Elshaarawy and Farida Abdelnabi ultimately sealed their victory.
Coach Amr Elmaraghy acknowledged the need to maintain competitive intensity throughout the match, stressing the importance of minimizing turnovers. Uganda’s coach, Nicholas Natuhereza, noted that while Egypt executed their final plays well, his team must learn how to better finish matches.
The 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Zone 5 qualifiers feature teams from the East African region competing for a chance to participate in the AfroBasket championships. With South Sudan participating for the third time, this recent win marks a significant milestone for the nation in women’s basketball. On the other hand, Egypt, as the host nation, seeks to capitalize on their home advantage as they aim for top performance in the tournament.
South Sudan’s victory over Kenya highlights their growth in women’s basketball, while Egypt’s survival against Uganda underscores their determination to perform well at home. Both teams are now focused on refining strategies and minimizing errors as they prepare for their upcoming matches in this competitive qualifier round.
Original Source: www.fiba.basketball
