Basketball in Africa

Sunday Results
Women
Kenya 61-64 Uganda
Men
Uganda 69-61 Rwanda
Saturday Results
Women
Kenya 52-70 Egypt
Men
Egypt 91-68 Somalia
Kenya 71-83 Uganda
RWANDA MEN’S basketball team failed to clinch a ticket to next year’s Fiba Afrobasket finals after losing to hosts Uganda 61-69 in the final match of the Zone V Qualifiers which climaxed last night at MTN Arena in Kampala.
Moise Mutokambali’s side came second best to their opponents Uganda in attack and defensive. Norman Blick and Steven Omwony were outstanding for Uganda in the entire game.
The plethora of scoring guards led by Kenneth Gasana, Kami Kabange and Aristide Mugabe couldn’t do much to salvage Rwanda as dominant Uganda ruled the game.
Rwanda started on a poor note losing the first quarter 11-15 but managed to register a quick recovery and gained their rhythm to beat Uganda 30-28 by half time.
After half time, Mutokambali’s side lost their concentration as Uganda won the third quarter 53-45 and Rwanda’s return to close the gap in the fourth quarter was futile.
The loss means that Rwanda has lost twice and won twice to finish third in the regional tournament behind leaders and defending champions Egypt and Uganda who will represent the region at the Afrobasket finals and All Africa Games next year.
Rwanda will for the first time miss at the Fiba Afrobasket finals having participated at the previous four editions.
In other games played on Saturday in the men’s category, Egypt sealed their campaign unbeaten with a 91-68 win over Somalia while Kenya beat Uganda 71-83.
Kenya and Somalia finished fourth and fifth respectively.
In the women’s category, Uganda’s women side, The Gazelles sealed their place in the Fiba Afrobasket championships for the first time in the history of Ugandan basketball after beating Kenya 64-61.
Egypt defeated Kenya 70-52 on Saturday but the latter finished second behind Uganda to seal a spot to compete at the Afrobasket finals. Egypt finished third in the overall standings.