Uganda Gazelles beat Egypt to qualify for 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket

Uganda’s Women National Basketball Team, the Gazelles have earned a spot in the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket tournament in Ivory Coast, thanks to a 74-63 victory over Egypt in the final gameb of the qualifiers.

Jane Asinde, the captain of the team, led Uganda to this important win. The 25-year-old player was outstanding, scoring 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the final. 

Her excellent performance earned her the title of Most Valuable Player (MVP) and best power forward of the tournament.

Throughout the qualifiers, Asinde was a key player for Uganda. She averaged 18.8 points per game and also recorded 10 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Her highest score came against South Sudan, where she scored 28 points.

“I am so happy to be the captain and lead this team to victory,” Asinde said. “It’s an overwhelming feeling. I’m grateful that we lost in the group stage because it gave us the chance to fix our mistakes and come back stronger.”

Asinde’s hard work didn’t go unnoticed. She was named to the tournament’s team of the tournament alongside other top players, including South Sudan’s Delicia Washington and Egypt’s Nadine Mohamed.

In the final, Uganda made a strong comeback after a tough opening quarter. The Gazelles dominated the second quarter with a 21-11 run, limiting Egypt to just five points in the last seven minutes of the period. 

This momentum helped them build a strong lead.

Although Egypt tried to fight back in the final quarter, Uganda held on to their lead. 

With solid performances throughout the game, the Gazelles kept their advantage, winning 74-63 and booking their place in the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket tournament.