Junior Silverbacks open title defence with victory
The victory gives the defending champions a strong start in their bid to qualify for the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket finals in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Courtesy photo
FIBA U18 Zone V AfroBasket Qualifiers
Uganda 52 South Sudan 40
Saturday
Kenya v Uganda 3:30PM
Uganda U18 boys' head coach Daniel Juuko Najja praised his players after they defeated South Sudan 52-40 in their opening game of the FIBA U18 Zone V AfroBasket Qualifiers in Cairo, Egypt on Friday.
The victory gives the defending champions a strong start in their bid to qualify for the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket finals in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Shane Kwizera led Uganda with 19 points, while John Levi Ogiramoi added 12 as the Junior Silverbacks controlled most of the game. South Sudan's Bior Mayen scored a game-high 15 points but could not prevent defeat.
Juuko said he was pleased with the team's performance and urged the players to remain focused ahead of their final group game against Kenya.
"The boys followed the game plan well and showed great character. It is always important to start with a win, but our work is not finished because we still have another important game against Kenya," Juuko said.
Uganda entered the tournament as the reigning Zone V champions after winning both the boys' and girls' titles in Kampala in 2024.
The tournament was initially scheduled to be played in Hoima before it was moved to Egypt following Uganda's Ebola outbreak.
Juuko, who took charge of the team in Cairo after serving as part of the technical staff during preparations, said the players remained united despite the change of venue.
"We are taking one game at a time. Every team here wants to qualify, so we must stay disciplined, defend well and continue improving if we are to retain the title," he said.
Uganda will now face Kenya in their final Group B match, with the top two teams advancing to the semifinals.
The winner of the tournament will secure Zone V's place at the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket finals scheduled for August 5-16 in Abidjan.
Uganda's U18 girls, the Junior Gazelles, have already qualified for the continental championship after finishing among the top four teams at the previous finals.