Uganda Completes Comeback to Secure Final Show down against Egypt.

Uganda has booked its place in the final of the five-team FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Zone V Qualifiers after a thrilling comeback victory against Burundi. Nicholas Natuhereza’s team overcame a sluggish start to completely dominate the match, securing a well-deserved win.

The game began with Uganda trailing 17-14 in the first quarter, showing signs of fatigue after their previous triumph. However, the team’s resilience and determination saw them lock down Burundi’s offense, allowing only 13 points for the remainder of the game. Uganda’s defensive intensity, combined with a resurgence on the offensive end, propelled them to victory.

Key players stepped up at the crucial moment, with Jamila Nansikombi and Melissa Akullu leading the charge, scoring 14 and 12 points, respectively. Paige Robinson also contributed significantly, adding 10 points to Uganda’s tally.

Reflecting on the game, coach Natuhereza acknowledged the slow start, attributing it to possible complacency and mental fatigue following the previous night’s intense match.

I don’t think we were mentally ready after last night’s big win, and that explains our slow start. It’s also natural to take things lightly when facing a team that is not traditionally considered as strong. But I am happy that we did enough to win the game, he stated.

Looking ahead, Natuhereza emphasized the importance of using the rest day wisely to prepare for the final showdown on Saturday.

On the other hand, Burundi suffered their third consecutive defeat in the tournament. Coach Arséne Mfuranzima expressed disappointment over his team’s performance but remained hopeful about their final game against South Sudan.

We had a good start and stuck to our game plan in the first two quarters, but we struggled offensively, managing only nine points in the last two quarters while they scored 37. Going into the final game, we are aware of South Sudan’s aggressive style, but we will use our experience to put up a better fight,” he stated.

Burundi’s Ines Kanyamuneza also admitted that her team lacked composure under pressure.

We tried to play catch-up, but that worked against us, and we failed to stick to the game plan,” she explained.

With this victory, Uganda now shifts focus to the final, where they will face the best-performing team in the competition. Fans will be eagerly watching as Uganda seeks to crown their campaign with a championship victory.