Uganda men’s national basketball team, the Silverbacks, will hope to make amends when they take on hosts Egypt on Sunday night in their third game at the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Alexandria.
The Silverbacks have lost their opening two games including a 73-84 defeat to Mali on Saturday.
Robinson Opong and Nike Sibande scored 24 and 22 points respectively but the Silverbacks could not get over the line.
Uganda’s biggest surge came late in the second quarter, when a 10-0 run-sparked by Sibande’s 5 points-erased a 32-43 Mali lead and cut the gap to just one at 42-43.
Uganda’s largest lead was 10 points, achieved twice in the third quarter: first at 7:52 (57-47), then again at 7:14 (59-49).
Momentum swung decisively late in the third quarter. Uganda were in control, leading 61-58 with 1:51 left in the period.
That’s when Oumar Ballo went to work in the paint, spinning for a turnaround jump shot to give Mali a 61-62 edge-their first lead since early in the frame.
Kanoute and Mahamane Coulibaly then took over, combining for key baskets as Mali rattled off an 11-0 run.
Uganda, meanwhile, managed only two free throws and missed four field goals during this stretch. By the end of the third quarter, Mali had built a 61-69 advantage-a lead they would never relinquish.
Point guard Siriman Kanoute powered Mali with a monster all-around performance: 27 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 6 steals.
Hosts Egypt, just like Uganda, is yet to win a game in the group.
Uganda will be eyeing revenge having lost 77-64 to Egypt in the Afrobasket last year in August in Luanda, Angola.