Silverbacks unveil AfroBasket 2025 squad with seasoned core and fresh faces

Afrobasket 2025
Dates: Aug 12-24
Host city: Luanda
Uganda's Group D fixtures
Aug 12 v Senegal
Aug 14 v Mali
Aug 16 v Egypt  
 
Ishmail Wainwright, Robinson Opong and Deng Geu have been there and done that. 

The Uganda Silverbacks can delight in the presence of an experienced core that will lead the country to battle at AfroBasket 2025, due in Angola from August 12 to 24. 

Uganda’s 12-man lineup for the continental showpiece was released earlier today, featuring a healthy mix of continuity and mystery, to go along with some notable absentees. 

On top of the Big Three, Jonathan Komagum, Emmanuel Womala, Emmanuel Mugenga, Fayed Bbaale, Ivan Muhwezi and Joel Kayira have all been part of at least one Silverbacks expedition. 

That will be valuable given the tournament is less than two weeks away and the coaching staff can only do so much in that period. That task will be led by American coach George Galanopoulos, who is available after a streak of missed tournaments that included the edgy second leg of AfroBasket qualification in Libya early this year. 

Galanopoulos is back with Portland Trail Blazers assistant manager Mike Schmitz, who will serve as part of the four-man coaching staff that also includes Mandy Juruni and Andrew Tendo. For Galanopoulos and Co. this is familiar territory.
 
Two years ago, they led the Silverbacks to the Afrobasket quarterfinals. That was with a team that also included Arthur Kaluma, Adam Seiko, Jimmy Enabu, Tony Drileba and James Okello, all of whom will not part of the Angolan campaign.
 
And there is a fear they may never be seen in a Silverbacks uniform again. Perhaps Kaluma, who is unavailable due to commitments with the Los Angeles Lakers, is likely to return. At 23, there will be plenty of opportunities for Kaluma to represent the Silverbacks again. 

For Enabu, Okello and Drileba (who turned down the call-up), the Silverbacks' chapter seems like it has come to an end. 

But for Naseef Lubowa, Christopher Mubiru, Joel Rugetta, and really for Kayira, it is just beginning. Lubowa, Mubiru and former national U18 star Rugetta, this is the maiden Silverbacks go-round, one they will remember for years.

Whether the Silverbacks can make Afrobasket 2025 memorable remains to be seen. In Senegal, Egypt and Mali, Uganda’s Group D opponents who occupy higher places in the world rankings, there is no prospect of an easy outing. 

 Uganda Silverbacks squad
I. Wainwright, D. Geu, R. Opong, J. Komagum, E. Womala, E. Mugenga, F. Bbaale, I. Muhwezi, J. Kayira, N. Lubowa, C. Mubiru & J. Rugetta
Coaches: G. Galanopoulos, M. Juruni, M. Schmitz & A. Tendo