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After the physical battle with Kenya, which left point guard Evelyn Nakiyingi with an elbow in the face and Jannon Otto limping, Egypt is next in line and the Gazelles must do much better to pull off a significant result.
Even before the Fiba Women’s Zone V AfroBasket Qualifiers tipped off Tuesday evening in Kampala, Kenya and Egypt were seen as favourites to battle it out for the sole ticket available to this year’s continental showpiece.
And the two countries wasted no time in reminding everyone what they are made of.
First, it was the experience of Egypt that sliced into two a resilient but clearly inexperienced South Sudan side 83-68 in the tournament’s opener before Kenya silenced the hosts 61-53 in the last game of Day One.
That leaves both Kenya and Egypt in pole position and Uganda cannot afford anymore slip-ups. There will be no margin for error when Alberto Antuna’s side face Egypt on Wednesday and South Sudan on Thursday.
Tough start
Unfortunately for Uganda, the fixture has them facing the two teams that played in the finals of this very tournament two years ago in Kigali, Rwanda.
After the physical battle with Kenya, which left point guard Evelyn Nakiyingi with an elbow in the face and Jannon Otto limping, Egypt is next in line and the Gazelles must do much better to pull off a big result.
Antuna has emphasized quick transition offense to avoid playing a set defence because Uganda lack the size to match up with the rest.
But shooting 14 of 45 from two-point range and three of 25 from beyond the arc was simply not good enough.
The Gazelles were also out-rebounded 69-56 as Kenya cleaned the glass to cut the option of quick offense.
Only Otto (11), Brenda Ekone (10) and Hope Akello (10) managed to score in double figures on opening night as Uganda struggled to cope with Kenya’s Mercy Wanyama and Madina Okot in the paint.
Maria Najjuma’s debut did not turn out as advertised. She struggled to get going and only got six points and nine rebounds.
The other new faces on the team all struggled to impress. Leticia Awor, Bridget Aber and Shilla Lamunu found the going tough when sent out there.
Two finals
The two games left for Uganda will all be finals. the top two sides will play the finals on Sunday and any other defeat will rule Uganda out of that.
Rwanda’s results will not count in this tournament so Uganda must win the next two games to stay in the picture.
Meanwhile, Rwanda will play their first game against South Sudan on Wednesday.
Fiba Women’s Zone V AfroBasket Qualifiers
Wednesday fixtures
Rwanda vs South Sudan - 5 pm
Egypt vs Uganda - 8 pm
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