By 
The Uganda senior women’s basketball team, the Gazelles, returned to their winning ways with a dominant 83-69 victory over South Sudan in the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Qualifiers on Wednesday evening.
This win marked a strong rebound after their narrow defeat to Egypt on Tuesday, where they had shown promise but fell short in the final moments.
From the opening tip-off, the Gazelles were in control, showing their intent to bounce back with authority. They took an early lead, finishing the first quarter 27-17, a 10-point advantage that set the tone for the rest of the game.
However Gazelles were relentless, further stretching their lead to 19 points by halftime, with the score standing at 50-31.
South Sudan struggled to keep up with Uganda’s pace, and the gap continued to widen as the game progressed.
In the third quarter, Uganda continued to dominate, extending their lead to 68-51. Despite South Sudan’s best efforts, the Gazelles remained composed and clinical, eventually sealing the victory with a final score of 83-69.
Key Players Shine for Uganda
A standout performance came from Jane Asinde, who once again delivered an exceptional game, scoring 28 points. Asinde was a force on both ends of the floor, also contributing 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and recording an impressive efficiency rating of 29. This marked her third consecutive Player of the Game award, showcasing her consistent dominance throughout the qualifiers.
The Gazelles also had strong contributions from other players. Shakirah Nanvubya and Paige Robinson each added 12 points, while Hope Akello chipped in with 10 points. Their collective efforts ensured that Uganda maintained their firm grip on the game and powered through to the win.
South Sudan’s Delicia Washington led the charge with 24 points, while Adut Bulgak added 14 points and Rose Macuei contributed 12.
Teny Nyamuoch also put up 10 points, but despite their best individual efforts, South Sudan was unable to overcome the well-rounded performance from Uganda.
With the victory, the Gazelles have put themselves in a strong position heading into their next match against Burundi on Thursday afternoon.
Burundi, who were defeated 53-87 by Kenya earlier in the day, will be looking to rebound, but Uganda will be favored given their recent dominant performance.
Gazelles are now eyeing a spot in the finals, where they would face Egypt once again, with the winner earning a place in the prestigious 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket final tournament in Côte d’Ivoire from July 27 to August 3, 2025.
Therefore their next game against Burundi will be crucial, as they continue to aim for a place on the continental stage.
