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Uganda Gazelles face former coach

Antuna (R) speaks to former skipper Flavia Oketcho. PHOTO/COURTESY 

What you need to know:

Uganda had defeated Egypt 86-85 in the group phase of the qualifiers but eventually lost 74-65 in the final as the Pharaohs booked the only direct ticket to Afrobasket.

The Uganda Gazelles’ most successful period came under the tutelage of Spanish coach Alberto Antuna.

Antuna, who was appointed Uganda’s coach in 2023, went on to finish second in the Fiba Zone V Afrobasket Qualifiers held in Kampala, eventually getting a wild card to feature at the finals in Kigali, Rwanda.

Uganda had defeated Egypt 86-85 in the group phase of the qualifiers but eventually lost 74-65 in the final as the Pharaohs booked the only direct ticket to Afrobasket.

At the finals, Antuna guided the Gazelles to a seventh-place finish, Uganda’s best performance at the continental showpiece thus far.

The two tournaments, however, turned out to be Antuna’s last with Uganda, as he moved on thereafter to join the Senegal women’s national team.

Among Antuna’s biggest achievements with the Gazelles was an 85-83 upset of 11-time champions Senegal in the group phase of the Afrobasket, something that must have triggered the West African side to snatch him from Uganda.

He, however, did not last long in West Africa and is currently head coach of the South Sudan women’s team taking part in the ongoing Afrobasket Qualifiers in Cairo, Egypt.

Antuna started his tenure with a commanding 86-69 win over Kenya last evening, and will be hoping to register his second when South Sudan entertains the Gazelles on Wednesday.

The Gazelles, who defeated Kenya 78-56 on Monday, faced off with hosts Egypt last night, but will have no time to rest as games keep coming thick and fast.

Nicholas Natuhereza, who was Antuna’s deputy, now has the task of helping the Gazelles secure a direct ticket to the finals slated for July 25-August 3, 2025 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Players like Jane Asinde, Melissa Akullu, Claire Lamunu and Hope Akello were part of Uganda’s Afrobasket journey and will be turning guns on their former coach.

Another familiar face on the South Sudan team will be 2022 National Basketball League MVP Rose Akon.

Uganda must win the tournament to book a direct ticket, but Egypt remain favourites in front of a partisan home crowd.

The top four teams after the round robin phase will progress to the semifinals, from which the two finalists will then fight for the lone ticket.

Zone V remains as the strongest qualifying phase in Africa, and that has over the years seen the second best team handed a wild card to the finals.

But there is no guarantee and Uganda will be hoping to secure the ticket by being the best team in Egypt. 

Fiba Zone V Afrobasket Qualifiers

Wednesday result 

South Sudan 86-69 Kenya 

Wednesday 

Kenya vs. Burundi, 4.30pm

Uganda vs. South Sudan, 7pm