The FIBA AfroBasketball Zone 5 qualifier games started on February 3 in Egypt. Zone 5 features five teams: Egypt, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan. Each category received a one-way ticket to the FIBA AfroBasketball games in Côte d’Ivoire in August of this year.
Uganda Opens Zone 5 Games With a Win
The Uganda Gazelles, led by Coach Nicholas Natuhereza, secured a victory over the Kenya Lionesses (78-56). The Gazelles led from the first quarter and maintained a lead throughout the game. They outscored the Lionesses in three accounts and had a basket-for-basket in the second quarter. The two teams hold a strong rivalry at the games, with Uganda getting a wildcard to the AfroBasketball games in 2023 despite Kenya beating the Gazelles, the hosts at the time, in their meetup. This was a revenge highly sought after by the Uganda Gazelles. Jane Asinde of Uganda led with 24 points, nine rebounds, and four steals.
Egypt Defends Home Grounds
The Egyptian side, Al Ahly, started off the games with a win against the Burundi Swallows, which was a huge win to boost their campaign. The game ended (102-40) in favor of Egypt. This was a total blow for the Burundian team, which was making a return to this stage after a decade of not participating in the games. Egypt fronted a tougher side, which dominated from the first quarter, scoring in the first minute. The first quarter ended 33-8 and only gave the Al Ahly side a chance to tear further away for the following quarters. In the 2023 FIBA AfroBasketball qualifier games, Egypt lost only one game to the hosts, then Uganda (86-85) and won the rest of its matchups with a big difference.
With a home advantage, the team could possibly repeat history and, even better, secure tickets to the games in Côte d’Ivoire. Nadine Mohamed Sayed led the Egypt side with 22 points and four assists.
Zone 4 Games
The Zone 4 games took place in Kinshasha, and DRC hosted Cameroon. Cameroon won back-to-back to secure the Zone 4 ticket to the Afrobasketball games.
Game One
Cameroon 75-49 DRC
Game Two
Cameroon 67-50 DRC
