Fans hail FUBA for hosting a memorable event as Egypt outclass Uganda Gazelles to qualify for the 2023 FIBA Women's AfroBasket

KAMPALA – Basketball fans in Uganda have praised the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) for hosting a very successful tournament. According to FUBA President Nasser Sserunjogi, though Uganda failed to qualify, they put up a spirited fight and vowed to continue promoting basketball across the country at all levels. Hosting the qualifiers that run from February 14-19 2023 at the MTN Arena in Kampala provided the country a chance to qualify for the Continental event for a third time, especially since the Women’s team (Gazelles) missed out on the previous qualifiers in 2021 in Kigali due to Financial constraints.

Uganda has competed at the Women’s Afro basket just twice ; in 1997 (Kenya) and 2015 (Cameroon).

Egypt on Sunday booked their ticket to the 2023 FIBA Women's Afro Basket when they beat host Uganda 74-65 in the final of FIBA Africa Zone 5 at MTN Arena, Lugogo in Kampala..

They now join already qualified Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Cameroon, and host Rwanda for the July festival to be held in Kigali.

It was Asrar Bakr who hit the game opener of this tough tie played before a packed hall.

At the end of the first quarter, Egypt who had raced to a 14-9 margin saw Uganda cut the lead to 20-19.

In the second stanza, Radwan Ahmed efforts pushed the scores to 22-18 but the hosts staged a recovery 24-24.

A nip and tuck encounter then developed and a foul shot by Jannon Otto locked the duel at 38-38. Yara Hussein shot off a rebound for as Egypt took a close 40-38 advantage

A Soraia Deghady swished a three for Egypt before Ekon Brenda went all the way and a Otto basket locked the duel 31-31 with 3:44 to go.

A Nip and tuck encounter developed in the second quarter with the scores changing back and fourth before Otto nailed one for another 38-38 tie.

In the third quarter, Egypt was up and running but Jannon Otto and Flavio Okatch efforts made the scores 50-48. Then Egypt unleashed a three man transition that resulted in a 52-48 scoreline.

A trey by Nadine Mohammed stretched the advantage to 59-53 as Egypt went up as the third quarter ended.

The last quarter went off with Moussa scoring the first basket on the break for a 61-53 edge soon the dangerous Souraya banked a three that made it a ten point game at 64-53.

It was a 12-point difference as Egypt pushed their biggest lead at 66-54 before a long trey by Oketcho Uganda draw close at 66-57.

Degahdy converted a cool trey for a 69-60 margin with the clock reading 4:57 and a Nadine Mohamed's free-throw stretched it to 70-60 with 2:00 to go.

Veteran Oketcho swished three foul shots on two crucial turn overs by Egypt to make the scores 70-63.

More heroics was to come from Degahdy who drained a well-worked out three to push the scores to 73-63 with 1:36 left.

Egypt had a biggest lead of 12 points (66-54). Uganda's biggest lead was two points (33-31). Biggest scoring was seven by Egypt (50-43). Egypt Scored 12 points from turn overs with Uganda having 12.

Egypt connected for 11 second chances as Uganda hit 10. Egypt led with 11 first fastbreaks to Uganda's nine.

Radwa Saleem was the top performer with 16 points and 6 rebounds. For Uganda Maria Najjuma had 12 points and 12 rebounds

Elgadawy bagged 19 points and 12 rebounds, Degahdy made 11. Uganda’s Brenda Ekone nailed 25 points.

KENYA v SOUTH SUDAN (64-30)

Medina Okot starred for Kenya sinking 18 points while pulling down 16 rebounds to go with five steals and two blocks in a 64-30 victory over South Sudan to finish third in the regional qualifier in Kampala.

Victoria Reynolds managed 10 points while Perina James Leime notched 10 points and had 9 rebounds and 5 steals for South Sudan.

Kenya led 12-11 at the end of the first quarter edge on a basket by Seline Okumu.

Reynolds lifted Kenya to a 31-16 cushion and when soon thereafter, a layup by Okot made the scores 46-24 as the second stanza came to a close.

At that juncture, South Sudan’s Perina James had 10 points while Okot and Reynolds had 16 and 10 points respectively for Kenya.

Kenya who won the earlier meeting between the two sides 80-51 raked up a 30 point cushion with the scores standing at 57-27.