Optimism as Uganda announce preliminary squad for 2023 Women's AfroBasket

 

KAMPALA (Uganda) - After an eight-year hiatus, Uganda women's national basketball team, "The Gazelles", make a return to continental basketball when they feature in this year’s Women's AfroBasket set for July 28 to August 6 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda.

Under the tutelage of Spaniard Alberto Antuna who is assisted by long serving Nicholas Natuhereza, who joined the team in 2017, "The Gazelles" are looking to improve on their performance in their last appearance in 2015. 

The Ugandan technical bench on Friday, June 23, named a squad of 19 that is set to hit camp on Sunday, July 2 for a fortnight before heading out to Kigali for more days of  training ahead of the ten-day competition. 

Speaking to FIBA Africa, coach Natuhereza says the selectors went for a mix of youth and experience while naming the team that will be trimmed down to 12 before departing for Kigali.

"We will prepare to compete against some tough competition in our pool," coach Natuhereza said, adding that "Facing Senegal and Mali in the group stage on our return is a huge test.

"Hopefully we can get the players ready to execute in a way that will get the best out of the squad we have." 

Coach Nicholas Natuhereza is seen here talking to Flavia Oketcho 

The tactician remains non-committal on whether they will look to fight for a quarter's place which would see the side post an improved performance from their tenth-place finish back in 2015 in Yaounde, Cameroon

Gazelles' coaching unit is likely to rely on the experience of UCU power forward Claire Lamunu and JKL point guard Flavia Oketcho who were part of the last team that played in Cameroon in 2015. 

Also making the provisional squad is UCU shooting guard Sheila Lamunu who was part of last year's U18 team that finished in fifth place,  after beating Algeria 64-42 in the classification match.

Hosts Uganda finished second at the regional Women's AfroBasket Qualifiers

"Sheila made her debut in the national team during the AfroBasket Qualifiers and was impressive. She is the youngest player we have called in camp," coach Natuhereza offered. 

The provisional squad of 19 also has members plying their trade outside the country led by Simpson College point guard Victoria Mukisa, Victoria Christian High School shooting guard Lydia Babirye, Troy University's small forward Jamilah Nanskombi, Greyson College's Priscilla Abby, also a small forward.

American-born Jannon Otto, who made her debut for Gazelles during Africa Zone 5's Womens' AfroBasket Qualifiers held in February in Kampala, has also been named in the squad alongside U-TEP's  Jane Asinde and Vanguard University's Melissa Akullo.  

"Majority of the players based out of the country  will be in Kampala before we start our training on July 2 while a few will come along the way in time for camp in Kigali," the coach confirmed. 

Here's Uganda's provisional squad for the 2023 FIBA Women's AfroBasket.

Uganda's 19-player preliminary squad for the 2023 FIBA Women's Basketball AfroBasket
Bridget Aber	Priscilla Abby	Sarah Ageno	Hope Akello
Mellisa Akullo	Jane Asinde	Leiticia Awor	Lydia Babirye
Brenda Ekone	Ritah Imanishimwe	Clare Lamunu	Sheila Lamunu
Victoria Mukisa	Maria Najjuuma	Evelyn Nakiyingi	Jamilah Nanskombi
Shakira Nanvubya	Flavia Oketcho	Janon Otto

FIBA