Uganda advances to the Women’s AfroBasket Zone Five Qualifiers final with a 66-30 win over Burundi, while Egypt remains unbeaten after an 85-64 victory against South Sudan. Both teams prepare for decisive matches, with Uganda on a rest day and Egypt facing Kenya next.
In the Women’s AfroBasket Zone Five Qualifiers, Uganda secured a spot in Saturday’s final by defeating Burundi 66-30, while host nation Egypt continued their undefeated run with an 85-64 victory against South Sudan. Both teams have ensured their places in the finals. Uganda enjoys a rest day on Friday, while Egypt prepares to face Kenya in their last group match.
In the match between Egypt and South Sudan, the Bright Starlets initially led 20-19 after the first quarter. However, Egypt mounted a comeback, driven by strong performances from Raneem Elgedawy and Meral Abdelgawad, who collectively scored 17 points during a decisive second quarter. The final score was 85-64, with Egypt dominating key areas such as the paint (38-20) and capitalizing on turnovers (24-13).
“We didn’t have a good start but our bench brought back the energy and we were able to make a comeback. We executed better defensively and were able to win,” noted Nadine Mohamed, emphasizing their focus on the upcoming game against Kenya. For South Sudan, Nyamuoch Teny, who scored 20 points, echoed, “We fought to the end and that’s what we will do until the end of the tournament.”
Uganda’s victory over Burundi highlighted their resilience; they shifted from trailing 14-17 in the first quarter to limiting Burundi to just 13 points for the remainder of the match. Jamila Nansikombi and Melissa Akullu led Uganda with 14 and 12 points, respectively, while Paige Robinson added 10 points. Uganda’s coach Nicholas Natuhereza attributed the slow start to mental readiness and complacency against a weaker opponent.
Coach Arséne Mfuranzima of Burundi expressed hope that his team could use experiences from earlier games to improve against South Sudan in their final match. “We had a good start and stuck to our game plan in the first two quarters. Going into the final game, we hope to use our experience to put up a better show,” he said. Players like Ines Kanyamuneza acknowledged the team’s impatience, which hindered their execution of the game plan.
The Women’s AfroBasket Zone Five Qualifiers serve as a crucial tournament for national teams in the region, aiming to secure their spots in the final competitions. This tournament includes teams from East African countries, competing in a round-robin format to determine the top two teams. Each match is pivotal as teams strive to exhibit their skills and secure a chance at championship glory while enhancing their overall game.
The results from the Women’s AfroBasket Zone Five Qualifiers illustrate the competitive nature of the tournament, with Uganda and Egypt emerging as strong contenders for the title. Their ability to adapt during matches and capitalize on opponents’ weaknesses is commendable. As they prepare for the final and the concluding group games, both teams are focused on refining their strategies and maintaining their momentum. This showcase not only highlights individual performances but also the importance of teamwork and resilience in competitive basketball.
Original Source: www.fiba.basketball
