Uganda sides make flying start in Zone V U18 qualifiers

Zone V Africa U18 qualifiers

Girls: Uganda 81 Kenya 68

Boys: Uganda 80 Kenya 58

Uganda boys and girls U-18 teams are one game away from making it to the FIBA Africa Zone 5 Africa champions after winning their games against Kenyan side at Lugogo on Saturday.

The girls won 81-68 with the boys registering an 80-58 win over their Kenya counterparts in the first matches played at the MTN Arena.

The second and decisive final games are on Sunday afternoon for a fight for the single slot to represent the East and Central African region-Zone V in the Africa U18 Championship to take place in Kigali, Rwanda (boys), on July 27 and Cairo, Egypt (girls) in August.

Uganda and Kenya are battling alone after the other countries in the zone failed to confirm their participation in the qualifiers.

In the girls game Uganda's Evelyn Nakiyingi and Hope Akello scored 20 points apiece with Brenda Ayere and Joan Namatovu adding 19 and 15 points for the Uganda girls who despite their small frames were devastating with their shooting.

Agneta Musalia's 21 points and Deedee Were's 18 points came shot of giving their side the required victory in the first game.

Uganda's Mathew Ochieng (R) takes on Kenya's Teddy Okoth and Samora Ogeda (L) during the first game of the African region-Zone V Africa U18 Championship qualifier at Lugogo. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

In the boys' game the Ugandans had an even easier task with Ivan Muhwezi scoring a game high 23 points to lead Nick Natuhereza's team to victory.

Mathew Ochieng added 18 with Elvis Ssentongo and Keefa Tamale adding 10 points apiece for the Ugandans who could seal it in the second game.

Samora Ogeda (18pts), Andrew Chevai (17pts) and Stefan Gichuki were outstanding for the Kenyan side.
The FIBA Africa U18 Championship will be returning to Rwanda six years after it was last held there in 2010.Twelve teams will battle for the African championship in both Rwanda and Egypt, hosting the championship for the first time.