Uganda created the first major upset of the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket championship, holding in Kigali, Rwanda by coming from a 17-21 first quarter deficit to edge the Lionesses of Senegal 85-83; in a very enthralling and keenly contested encounter, played on Day-2 of the tournament.
Ranked 11th in the FIBA Africa rankings, eight places below Senegal who are rated 3rd and are always considered as favorites at all tournaments; Uganda won the second quarter 18-17 but still trailed the Senegalese by 3 points, at half time of the Group C game.
Both sides stepped-up their play in the third quarter, but again it was the Ugandans that won it 22-18, before also taking the decisive fourth quarter 28-27 for a famous shock victory, that was greeted with wild jubilation by the East Africans, at the BK Arena, venue of all the matches.
In a Group B game played earlier, Mozambique were just a solitary point short of a Century, in their 90-40 dunks trouncing of Guinea, while fourth ranked Egypt began their campaign in Group D by handing Congo DR rated 10th in Africa, an 89-78 defeat.
It was the second straight loss suffered by the Congolese, who were on Friday thrashed 69 – 35 by the tournament’s defending champions, and No.1 ranked team, D’Tigress of Nigeria, captained by Serah Ogoke.
Players and officials of D’Tigress rested on Saturday, but will return to the BK Arena in Kigali at 2pm Nigerian time to face their Egyptian counterparts, in what pundits believe would be a true test for new Coach Rena Wakama, and her hurridly assembled team, that is missing several key players.
Having won the last three editions of the championship, in 2017, 2019, and 2021 Nigeria are three-peat champions, and the goal of the D’Tigress is to win the 2023 tournament; and equal the record held by Senegal, the only team to have won the Women’s Afrobasket title, four times at a bounce.
