Uganda’s Junior Gazelles clinched fifth place at the concluded 2022 FIBA U18 Women Afrobasket in Madagascar.
The Junior Gazelles lost to Angola 44-57 in the Quarterfinals and later made amends in the placement games.
They then beat Guinea 62-54 in the first classification and overcame Algeria in a 64-42 win to finish fifth.
Priscilla Nambogo scored a team high 12 points while Diana Letaru and Sylvia Nantongo who had 10 points each completed double doubles with 18 and 11 rebounds respectively.
Doua Yahiaoui and Wilsya Laina scored 12 points each for Algeria but the effort was not enough.
It’s Uganda’s best placement at the games ever having finished 11th on their debut tournament in Tunisia in 2009.
They then came eighth back to back in 2016 Egypt and 2018 Mozambique.
Mali Makes It Eight
Mali proved too good for Egypt in the final with a deserved 86-54 win at the Gymnase Couvert in Madagascar.
Both finalists – Mali and Egypt – have qualified for the 2023 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in Madrid, Spain.
Mali captain Maimouna Haidara, led with 22 points and 12 rebounds while Fatouma Sanou (18), Kamite Dabou (14) and Mama Cisse (14) scored in double figures.
Jana Elalfy had a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, Jana Sallman added 14 points in a losing effort.
It’s title number eight for Mali who lost to Egypt in the 2020 final.
Angola beat hosts Madagascar 53-37 in the Bronze medal match to finish third.
