Uganda’s basketball national team the Silverbacks, has qualified to play at the second round of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers despite losing two straight games to Cape Verde and Nigeria at the BK arena in Rwanda.
The silverbacks qualify as the third team in group A at five points, one behind Nigeria holding six and table leaders Cape Verde with seven points.
Uganda obtained maximum points at the start of the first round after Mali failed to appear by tip-off time. But, was not fortunate enough to sidestep Cape Verde and Nigeria, losing 87 – 78 and 91 – 72 respectively.
Uganda’s Ishmael Wainwright bagged a double-double of 18 points, 13 rebounds plus 6 assists as his side played against D’ tigers, Nigeria’s basketball team.
Besides him, blazing for Uganda were, Arthur Kaluma with 27 points, six rebounds and 4 assists, and Robinson Opong with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Nigerian national Chimezie Metu similarly had a big game today with a double-double scoring 25 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks as his team conquered the silverbacks.
Twelve teams from the four groups will face each other at the next round of the qualifiers inorder to make it among the top five nations that will represent Africa at the FIBA basketball world cup from August 25th to September 10th 2023 in Phillipines, Japan and Indonesia.
