By Michael Ainomugisha
Uganda Christian University (UCU) Lady Canons advanced to the final of the 8th Federation of African University Sports (FASU) Afro Varsity 3×3 Basketball Championship after overcoming opponents from Kenya and Nigeria on Monday 1st June, in Ibadan, Nigeria.
The Lady Canons, represented by Martina Anyango, Shillah Lamunu, Sylvia Nakituuka and Zoe Atek, began the knockout stage with a 14–8 victory over Kisii University of Kenya in the quarter-finals.
The win booked a semifinal clash against Nigeria’s Obafemi Awolowo University. UCU controlled the contest from start to finish, securing a convincing 16–7 victory to reach the championship game.
The result sets up a familiar final against the United States International University (USIU) of Kenya. The two sides have met in the finals of the last two editions, with UCU emerging victorious in both 2024 and 2025.
The Lady Canons are chasing a third consecutive Afro Varsity 3×3 title and another qualification to the FISU University 3×3 World Cup.
Meanwhile, the UCU Canons enjoyed a strong run to the semifinals before their campaign was halted by the tournament hosts.
Represented by Joel Kayiira, Solomon Olara, Flore Dushime and Marvin Okurut, the Canons edged Haute École de Commerce de Kinshasa (HEC) from the Democratic Republic of Congo 13–9 in the quarter-finals.
The victory sent them into the last four against the University of Ibadan. Playing in front of their home crowd, the Nigerian side proved too strong and defeated UCU 19–13 in a fiercely contested encounter.
The loss ended UCU’s hopes of defending the men’s title but left them with an opportunity to finish on the podium.
The Canons will now face USIU in the bronze-medal game, a fixture that comes with added significance given that the two sides have contested the men’s final in each of the last two editions.
