The Uganda Silverbacks have successfully qualified for the AfroBasket Angola 2025 tournament, displaying remarkable resilience despite a challenging final game. Opening their campaign with a narrow 63-60 win against Cape Verde, the Silverbacks showcased their tenacity and skill, making a strong statement in the opening match. In a highly anticipated clash against Nigeria, Uganda faced a tough battle, ultimately losing 87-68.
In the final game, they hardly-fought but defeated by Libya 69-66.
Despite the defeat, the Silverbacks achieved their primary goal of qualification. The loss to Nigeria highlighted some fatigue and lapses in concentration, but the team showed flashes of brilliance, particularly in the latter stages of the against Libya. The defeat, though disappointing, did little to overshadow their overall performance in the competition.
Head coach Mande Juruni Lutwama expressed satisfaction with his team’s efforts, acknowledging the level of competition they faced and the hard work put in by the players. “We really did a good job competing. We lost games, but the level of competition we showed and the quality of the game has been amazing,” Lutwama said. He attributed the heavy loss to Nigeria to player fatigue, stressing that strategic rotations were necessary to manage the players’ energy. “There was a lot of fatigue with players, that’s why we made some rotations. The boys didn’t do well in the first quarter, but I told them we can’t get embarrassed, especially after everything we’ve done,” he added.
Team captain Jimmy Enabu also reflected on the team’s performance, recognizing that despite the mistakes, particularly towards the end of the Nigeria game, the Silverbacks achieved their primary goal of qualifying for AfroBasket. “We had lapses towards the end; we failed to catch a few balls. It’s from these mistakes that we have to learn and grow,” the captain noted. He emphasized the importance of learning from these errors and growing as a team. “Our main goal was to qualify, and we did it. In the main tournament, we need to be a very good team and give ourselves a chance to win,” he concluded.
The Silverbacks’ qualification for AfroBasket 2025 is a monumental achievement in Ugandan basketball. With a mix of experience and youthful energy, the team is determined to learn from their setbacks and come back stronger. As the team gears up for the main tournament, the Silverbacks are poised to prove themselves on the continental stage, with aspirations of making a significant impact in Angola next year.
