Uganda open AfroBasket against scary Senegal

Afrobasket 2025

Today, 2pm

Uganda v Senegal

Sometimes the best part about a fixture is you have nothing to lose. The Uganda Silverbacks can relate.

Facing Senegal in their 2025 Afrobasket opener this afternoon, Uganda can bask in the fact that all the pressure is on their opponents. Senegal have reached the AfroBasket semifinals at every edition since 2013, finishing third at the last two tournaments. Meanwhile, they completed the qualifiers for the 2025 edition with a 6-0 record.

Marks of a title contender? You bet. By contrast, the Silverbacks are counting on hope as much as anything they have done in the lead-up to this tournament.

The Silverbacks are not only two players short of a full roster, but they are also devoid of the star power of previous editions.

Emmanuel Womala is confident the Silverbacks can compete.

“One thing I respect about this team is that we respect every opponent, but we also have a healthy amount of self-confidence to know that we are not here to hide from anybody,” said the guard. “Everyone has seen the rankings, but we are confident in our abilities, and I feel that as long as we do what we need to do, we have a chance to beat anybody.”

He added, “We are well prepared. We had a good camp. The coach has been making sure that we get all the information about what we want to do ourselves but also our opponents. We have been watching a lot of film, we have been preparing. We have been going over our stuff and their stuff. So, as long as we bring the energy, we lock in on what we want to do and how we want to shut them down (I think we will compete).

 
Uganda are in Group D, from which the winner gains automatic qualification to the quarterfinals. Second-place and third-place finishers will take on their third-place and second-place counterparts from Group C.