UCU’s journey to the World Cup was marked by a hard-fought victory in the finals of the sixth Afro Varsity 3×3 Basketball Championship, held in Kampala on July 28, 2024. The UCU Canons narrowly edged out Ghana’s University of Cape Coast (UCC) Wildcats, winning 18-16 in a thrilling contest.

Coach Nicholas Natuhereza remains optimistic about UCU’s chances of extending the series to a deciding Game 7, set for Wednesday, September 25, if they win on Sunday. The break, he believes, has given his team the mental reset they needed.

With this win, the Lady Canons are just two games away from clinching the championship, while the Dolphins face a must-win situation in Game Three on Sunday to keep their title defence hopes alive.

UCU’s dominance on the boards, out-rebounding JKL 56-49, was crucial, especially as the Lady Dolphins mounted a late surge in the game. Despite the Dolphins’ efforts, the Lady Cats maintained their lead and secured the win.

The 2024 Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) Women’s National Basketball League finals will once again see the UCU Lady Canons face off against the JKL Lady Dolphins, reigniting a 2022 NBL final thriller.

Lady Canons came out strong in the first quarter, establishing a 20-14 lead. However, both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter, with UCU managing just 9 points to KIU’s 7, leading to a 29-21 halftime score.