AfroBasket returns with Uganda Silverbacks chasing breakthrough

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The quadrennial AfroBasket men’s basketball championship tips off on Tuesday with Uganda’s Silverbacks seeking history in Group D and 11-time champion Angola, hosting for the fourth time, opening their campaign against Africa’s No. 1 team, South Sudan.

Luanda and Namibe will jointly stage the 31st edition of AfroBasket from Aug. 12 to 24, marking the fourth time Angola has hosted the premier event.

Ivan Muhwezi (left) and Silverbacks captain Robinson Opong during the training camp. (Courtesy Photo/FUBA)

In each of its previous hostings, Angola's national team won the title. After a decade off the podium, the Black Antelopes will look to use home advantage to claim a record 12th championship.

Following a runner-up finish in 1983, Angola dominated AfroBasket for more than three decades, winning 11 titles, four silvers and two bronzes without missing the podium. However, the team failed to reach the semifinals in the last two editions, falling to Senegal on both occasions.

This year, Angola is in Group C with South Sudan's Bright Stars, ranked No. 1 in Africa, along with Guinea and Libya.

South Sudan, which debuted in 2021 with a seventh-place finish, has quickly risen to prominence, becoming the youngest nation to qualify for both the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Coached by former NBA All-Star Luol Deng, the Bright Stars aim to back their top ranking with a first major title. Former Beijing Ducks player Nuni Omot is expected to lead their roster.

Head coach George Galanopoulos. (Courtesy Photo/FUBA)

South Sudan opens against Guinea, the 2023 FIBA Africa U16 champion, while Angola faces Libya.

Defending champion Tunisia will attempt a three-peat, a feat only Angola has achieved. Ranked fourth in Africa, Tunisia faces Nigeria, Cameroon and Madagascar in Group B. Nigeria's men won their only AfroBasket title in 2015 and begin their 2025 campaign against Madagascar. Cameroon's preliminary squad includes NBA players Yves Missi, Christian Koloko and Ulrich Chomche. Cameroon, which took silver in Luanda in 2007, will hope to repeat its past success on Angolan soil.

In Group A, second-ranked Cote d'Ivoire has two titles and four runner-up finishes but lost the 2021 final to Tunisia 78-75. The Democratic Republic of Congo, which posted a 5-1 record in qualifiers, including a win over South Sudan, will be among its main challengers. Former bronze medalist Cape Verde and 2021 host Rwanda also aim to improve on their best performances.

The Silverbacks have concluded their training camp in South Africa before heading to Angola for the 2025 AfroBasket. (Courtesy Photo/FUBA)

Group D features Uganda, the only team yet to reach the podium. Senegal and Egypt, dominant forces before 2000, will look to return to form. Senegal, coming off consecutive third-place finishes, opens against Uganda, while Egypt faces the 1972 bronze medallist Mali.

Preliminary group winners advance directly to the quarterfinals, while second- and third-placed teams will play in a qualification round for the remaining spots. The 24 group-stage games will run from Aug. 12 to 17 in both host cities, with the knockout stages in Luanda from Aug. 18 to 24.