Junior Gazelles eye fifth-place finish after quarter-final heartbreak against Egypt
The defeat sends Uganda into the fifth-to-eighth-place classification games, where they will face Kenya on Friday.
Junior Gazelles eye fifth-place finish after quarter-final heartbreak against Egypt
Uganda’s Junior Gazelles were knocked out of the medal race at the 2026 FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket after losing 80-50 to Egypt in the quarter-finals in Treichville, Côte d’Ivoire, on Wednesday night.
The defeat sends Uganda into the fifth-to-eighth-place classification games, where they will face Kenya on Friday.
Uganda started the quarter-final well but struggled to keep pace with Egypt as the game progressed. Egypt led 23-17 at the end of the first quarter before taking control.
Maria Nanyonga kept Uganda in the game early with a three-pointer, while Rose Musundi also scored and made offensive rebounds.
Uganda, however, struggled with turnovers and missed shots as Egypt increased its lead.
Grace Nakalembe and Nanyonga tried to keep Uganda within reach, while Mary Hazel Ssengendo contributed rebounds and an assist. Musundi also scored a driving lay-up and a free throw.
Egypt continued to extend its advantage after the break. Nakalembe collected defensive rebounds and made a steal, while Musundi added more points, but Uganda could not close the gap.
Egypt eventually won 80-50 to book a place in the semi-finals.
The Junior Gazelles opened the tournament with an 84-57 victory over Kenya before losing 80-44 to hosts Côte d’Ivoire.
They responded with an 86-43 win over the Central African Republic on Monday to finish second behind unbeaten Côte d’Ivoire.
In the quarter-final, Nanyonga and Brandina Kyalimpa led Uganda’s scoring with eight points each. Musundi added seven points, while Ssengendo scored six.
Nakalembe finished with four points, while Olivia Amani Atima added one. Hafusah Kyomuhendo and Shivan Mwesigwa did not score.
Nakalembe also recorded eight rebounds and six assists. Atima grabbed nine rebounds, while Ssengendo had seven.
The other quarter-finals saw Mali beat Kenya 93-22, Nigeria defeat Cameroon 75-45, and Côte d’Ivoire beat Tunisia 45-28.
The results sent Mali, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Egypt into the semi-finals.
2026 FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket
Quarter-final results
Mali 93 Kenya 22
Nigeria 75 Cameroon 45
Côte d’Ivoire 45 Tunisia 28
Egypt 80 Uganda 50
Friday (Classification round, fifth to eighth places)
Uganda v Kenya
Tunisia v Cameroon
Semi-Finals
Mali v Egypt
Nigeria v Côte d’Ivoire