Silverbacks face Nigeria after registration mix-up

KAMPALA- The Silverbacks will hope for a reverse in fortunes ahead of today’s Fiba Afro-Basket Championship encounter against Nigeria following a tumultuous last week that culminated in Wednesday’s 77-55 defeat to hosts Tunisia.

A win against the hosts was always unlikely although events prior to the game did not do the Ugandan team any favours either.
It took the intervention of a Shs82m offer from President Yoweri Museveni on Monday to pay outstanding Fiba dues and get clearance for the tournament.

Things then took a turn for the worse early on Wednesday after Fuba were asked to choose between guard John Baligwaire and centre Brandon Sebirumbi who were regarded as naturalized players.

According to tournament rules, only one naturalized player is eligible to feature for a given nation at the tournament if they acquired their passport after the age of 16.

Fuba had hoped to use both US-born players being given an assurance by the game’s governing body Fiba if they could prove that the players were Ugandan by descent.

In the end, coach Mandy Juruni chose Sebirumbi over Baligwaire who emerged MVP at the Zone V Championship qualifiers in Kampala last year.

“That distracted everyone. We had four players who were not sure of playing,”Juruni explained yesterday.

Sebirumbi seemed most affected by the pre-match events, getting into early foul trouble as the Silverbacks struggled against the Salah Mejri-inspired Tunisia. “He didn’t have a good game but that happens to everyone and he will be better in the next game,” Juruni assured.

He will hope for alternative scoring options to Stanley Ocitti and Stephen Omony who stood out with 20 and 15 points respectively. The Nigerians, meanwhile, started their tournament with an 88-63 win over Central African Republic.

Afro-basket champs
Wednesday results
Tunisia 77-55 Uganda
Nigeria 88-63 CAR
Today in Rades, Tunisia
Uganda vs. Nigeria, 7pm (Live on SS9)

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