FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2023 

Kigali-Rwanda 

The Uganda Gazelles face Mali at the FIBA Afrobasket in Kigali, Rwanda on Friday at the BK Arena in Rwanda. 

This is the Gazelles’ third appearance on the continent after eight years of no-show. 

Despite a long spell of not competing at the continental stage, the Gazelles are confident to leave a mark in Rwanda considering the kind of preparations the team went through. 

The squad has everything it takes to win and the beauty about the whole episode is that the local league (NBL) has been called off so that the Ugandans can also get time to cheer the girls.

Players Flavia Oketcho and Claire Lamunu are the only ones who have ever played at Afrobasket and the Gazelles will have to bank on their experience.

Also, the Gazelles team is composed of US-based players such as Lydia Babirye, Melissa Akullo, Priscilla Abby, Maria Najjuma, Jane Asinde, Victoria Mukisa, and Jannon Otto who bring a lot of experience to the team. They will have to team up with the local-based ones including  Evelyn Nakiyingi, Brenda Ekone, Hope Akello, and Ritah Imanishimwe who have also been big in the league. 

For the first time, the Gazelles have a strong technical team headed by coach Alberto Antuna and Nicholas Natuhereza, and Mavita Ali who have coached women's basketball at the top level. 

However, for the Gazelles to stay relevant, they have to play smart by shooting and rebounding the ball seriously given the fact that they were placed in the group of death alongside Africa’s basketball strongholds Mali and Senegal. 

Mali is ranked second and 27th in Africa and World while Uganda is ranked 11th and 80th both on the continent and Worldwide. 

For Mali, it will be a stumbling block for the Gazelles the fact that they know how sweet the victory is having won it in 2007, they have also been at the world cup as well as the Olympics before as well.