By Michael Ainomugisha
Uganda Women’s Basketball team; the Gazelles’ spirited run at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket came to an agonising end on Thursday afternoon, falling 69-68 to South Sudan’s Bright Starlets in a dramatic quarterfinal showdown in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
A tightly contested game saw momentum swing wildly, but it was South Sudan’s Rose Akon who calmly sank two crucial free throws in the final minute to seal a historic semifinal berth for the Bright Starlets. Uganda’s Melissa Akullu, under similar pressure, missed a pair of free throws that could have sent the game into overtime or snatched a late win.
“We did the best that we could,” said head coach Nicholas Natuhereza.
“I feel like we struggled offensively down the stretch… We let ourselves down offensively; we could have gotten better looks and also finished the game.”
Uganda started brightly, imposing their rhythm in a cautious opening quarter and taking a 25-20 lead. But the tide quickly turned in the second quarter, as South Sudan found their range from deep. A corner three by Nyamer Lual capped a 26-1 run, handing the Gazelles a six-point halftime deficit and throwing their offensive rhythm into disarray.
The Gazelles clawed their way back early in the third, with Peruth Nyamwenge tying the game and Jane Asinde’s free throw nudging Uganda ahead 60-59 at the quarter’s end. But Delicia Washington (17 points) and Maria Gakdeng (12 points, 13 rebounds) kept South Sudan steady, and Akon (12 points) delivered the decisive blow from the line.
Nyamwenge led Uganda with 16 points, while Asinde impressed with a double-double of 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. Paige Robinson added 10 points despite a tough shooting night.
Coach Natuhereza was quick to look ahead.
“We just need to take the lessons we’ve learnt and look a bit better next time round. Right now, we need to look at the highest we can finish.”
Uganda will now face off against Mozambique in a 5th-6th playoff today at 3:00pm.
