Can Uganda secure fourth straight AfroBasket ticket?
Uganda are chasing their fourth straight appearance at AfroBasket.
KAMPALA (Uganda) - Silverbacks, Uganda's senior men's national basketball team, had four days under new head coach Mandy Juruni, to prepare for their 2025 AfroBasket Qualifiers, commencing on February 23 in Monastir, Tunisia.
Juruni, who assumes the head coach role having served as an assistant in Silverbacks’ last assignment and is now assisted by Tendo Andrew, named a 13-man squad on 13 February, headlined by NBA star Ishmael Wainwright and Adam Seiko.
The East African country, that finished in sixth place in the 2021 continental championship hosted in Rwanda, is set to go up against Cape Verde and Nigeria in group B. Morocco or Libya complete the group.
"Being the first window, every game and every basket counts because we know there is a second window which is usually very tough,” Jururni told FIBA.basketball ahead of the competition.
The tactician has gone for a mix of youth and experience in naming his squad with other foreign-based players including sharpshooter Robinson Opong and center Brandon Ssebirumbi, a duo that proved instrumental in guiding Juruni’s City Oilers to the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL). Emmanuel Womala completes that list.
The Ugandan-based legion is led by City Oilers’ quintet of Bbale Fayed, Titus Odeke, James Okello, Tony Drileba, and Ivan Muhwezi. KIU Titans’ duo of Edgar Munaba and Stanley Mugerwa as well as UCU's Joel Kayiira will also be up for selection in Monastir.
“We were looking to field a strong squad that includes players that have experience at this level while also ensuring continuity, with some new blood, which we have achieved. Chemistry is key in this campaign and with just four days of training before action begins, we are focusing on getting the basics right, mainly creativity as that will propel us to victory,” Juruni explained.
As Silverbacks renew rivalry with Cape Verde on the opening day, the East Africans will seek their first win in their last three meetings (in the 2021 AfroBasket quarters and 2023 World Cup African Qualifiers).
The second day of action has Juruni’s charges going up against Nigeria in an attempt to repeat their 2021 AfroBasket pre-quarters clash where they won 80-68 against the West Africans. Since then, Uganda dropped to 1-2 against D'Tigers dating back to the World Cup Qualifiers.
"We have faced these teams before and are aware of what to expect. African basketball is physical and quick so we have to be ready for that. These teams shoot the ball well so we have to have defensive coverage. Our target is to win as many games as we can and compete hard throughout,” the tactician added.
The squad will miss the services of Arthur Kaluma, younger sibling to Seiko and former skipper Jimmy Enabu. Asked about their absence, Juruni kept it brief, saying; “We will miss their services but we will focus on what we have.”
Team Uganda: Ish Wainwright, Bbale Fayed, Titus Odeke, James Okello, Tony Drileba, Ivan Muhwezi, Edgar Munaba, Stanley Mugerwa, Robinson Opong, Emmanuel Womala, Brandon Ssebirumbi, Joel Kayiira and Adam Seiko.
Head Coach: Mandy Juruni.
Overview: Uganda are chasing their fourth straight appearance at AfroBasket.
FIBA