Silverbacks stranded in Egypt after winless World Cup qualifiers window

Uganda's Silverbacks are stranded in Egypt following a challenging first window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers in Alexandria, where they lost all three games.

The team was scheduled to fly out of Alexandria on Monday night via Dubai International Airport.

However, with much of the Middle East airspace closed and Dubai Airport affected by escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, the Silverbacks remain stuck.

Team manager Albert Ahabwe told Vision Sport they are awaiting clear communication from their travel agents.

"Right now, we're waiting for an answer from our travel agent. Our flight was scheduled for Monday at 10:45 pm through Dubai. We haven't got a final word yet, so it's a bit premature for alarm," said Ahabwe.

New addition Nike Dejur Sibande managed 11 points against the North Africans. Courtesy Photo

With major airlines suspending flights indefinitely, the team may be forced to seek alternative and more expensive travel arrangements. Despite the uncertainty, officials report calm in the camp as Uganda's basketball leadership remains in Alexandria with the players.

On-court struggles

The Silverbacks finished bottom of Group D with a 0-3 record after defeats to Angola, Mali and Egypt. They closed the window with a heavy 91-52 loss to Egypt at the Borg El Arab Arena.

Uganda briefly led 2-0 and 4-2 in the opening minutes, but Egypt responded with an 18-0 run between the first and second quarters and controlled the game for more than 37 minutes. The biggest gap reached 39 points late in the fourth quarter.

Coach Mandy Juruni acknowledged the team's struggles throughout the window.

"We had different problems in all three games, giving out transition points and not taking care of the game. Against Egypt, we were very flat and low energy. We missed a lot of chances," Juruni said.

Tejan Rugette was one of the young additions to the Silverbacks squad. Courtesy Photo

"We need a team which is deep. The guys were tired and fatigued. We do miss a lot of players but that's not really an excuse. The guys who were here did their best."

Game-by-game breakdown

The campaign began with a 90-68 defeat to African champions Angola. Uganda committed 35 turnovers which gave Angola 40 easy points. The Palancas Negras opened with a 17-0 run and led 27-13 after the first quarter. Although Uganda improved in the second quarter, they still trailed by 18 at halftime. A late 10-0 run reduced the margin to 15 points at 75-60, but Angola finished strongly.

In the second game, Uganda showed fight but lost 84-73 to Mali. The Silverbacks dominated the second quarter 31-22 and looked competitive. However, Mali limited Uganda to just seven points in the third quarter, grabbed 18 offensive rebounds from 50 total rebounds, and went on two separate 11-0 runs to seal the game.

Captain Robinson Opong said the team failed to correct their mistakes.

"We came in, and we wanted to execute and correct all the mistakes, but we couldn't. That resulted in a lot of transition points. See how many rebounds we gave away and how many turnovers we made. When you mix those two, it's hard to win games. It's a humbling experience, but I am optimistic. We need more time. Of course, we need to be there," he said.

After the humbling trip up north, skipper Robinson Opong says the Silverbacks need more time to gel. Courtesy Photo

Individual performances

Nike Sibande emerged as one of Uganda's consistent performers. On his debut against Angola, he scored 15 points with seven assists and four rebounds. He added 22 points against Mali and finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds against Egypt, including three assists and two steals in 34 minutes.

Deng Geu impressed with 17 points and 12 rebounds against Angola, while Joel Kayira contributed 10 points in that game. Opong scored 24 points against Mali, while Fayed Baale and Peter Obleng made brief contributions in the final game against Egypt.

Group standings

Across Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Mali remain unbeaten after three games, while Madagascar, Rwanda and Uganda are yet to register a win. Three teams from each group will qualify for the next round in July, while the bottom sides will be eliminated.