Will Uganda qualify for the world Cup?: FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League

Will Uganda qualify for the world Cup?: FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League

The FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League has completed 3 stops with Algeria and Uganda leading the men and women standings. Uganda men haven’t well but they still have a chance. Can they change their fate? #talkinghoops

Avitus Ngabirano

August 9, 2024

2–3 minutes

Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, fiba, FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League, South Africa, uganda

The FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League is halfway done with 3 stops played so far and is set to resume on Thursday for the fourth stop.

Algeria Men won the last 2 stops while Burkina Faso men won the first one and were runners up in the second Stop.

On the other hand, Uganda’s men have not had the start they wanted but with 2/3 wins in stop 3, their confidence will increase and maybe better results will swing in their favor.

The Ugandan ladies have been on fire, with just a single loss, and have won 2 of the 3 stops.

This competition serves as a qualifier for the U23 World Cup that shall be played in September in Mongolia and all teams are fighting to get that ticket.

Current Standings

Men

Algeria 300 pts
Burkina Faso 230 pts
Benin 220 pts
Uganda 200 pts
South Africa 110 pts

Women

Uganda 280 pts
Benin 250 pts
Algeria 220 pts
Burkina Faso 160 pts
South Africa 120 pts

For the men, Algeria is in strong contention given the way they have been playing and in case they win another stop, that might be enough for them to won the overall.

However, Uganda still has an opportunity but a lot things have to go their way.

Uganda has to win all the remaining 3 stops, and I pray that Algeria doesn’t finish second in 2 of those. That will mean that Uganda has more wins (stops) and also points.

For the Ladies, Uganda and Benin are the favorites and the margin of error is very close.

When those 2 sides meet, it will be a fight till the end but Uganda has an opportunity to increase their hold at the top.

In stop 4, they are pooled with Benin and the Central African Republic; if they can defeat Benin, they will advance to play the decider from the winners in pool A, and that means the highest Benin can get will be third place.

That will make Uganda have 380 points if they win overall and Benin 320 if they finish 3rd.

These are just projections and things can go otherwise given that these 2 teams have been competing very highly, with their final game having been decided on the Free throw line in overtime.

Uganda Men have made a couple of changes, in stop 3 we saw Ian Lubwama Duncan and Marvin Jesse Okurut replace Peter Obleng and Michael Makumbi. It’s safe to point out that the big man position has been a problem for Uganda, Joel Kayiira hasn’t yet matched up with the opposition and it has costed Uganda.

Whether the team makes a change in that place is yet to be known but his performance in the final game against South Africa sparked hope that he could up his game.

Akello Winnifred replaced Darlene Tashobya in the stop 3 and she started well.

Mary Amaniyo was named on the team for the Gazelles’ game against Westmont Warriors but she didn’t play. It is unknown whether it was precautionary or she has a bit of niggles.

The Games resume on Thursday 9th at the Lugogo Hockey Grounds.