09 July 2021 | Basketball

Uganda qualified for a third straight FIBA AfroBasket after beating Morocco side 77-65 on Thursday night at the Salle El Bouazzaoui.

Teenager Arthur Kaluma inspired the Silverbacks on his debut with game-high 20 points to go with 5 rebounds and 2 steals on a historic night.

Morocco took an early lead 5-2 in the first quarter but the Ugandans pulled away thereafter leading 20-10 at the end of the first quarter to make their intention clear.

However, Morocco chose a zone defense in the second quarter that Uganda struggled to break down as the home side maximized on the steals to score in transition and cut their deficit to just a single point (32-31) at the halftime break.

The Silverbacks of Uganda returned from the long break with a wounded attitude and charged at the Moroccans who were caught unaware in the opening four minutes, forcing head coach Labib El Hamrani to go to the veterans - Mohamed Choua and Soufiane Kourdou who brought more heat to the game - but Uganda maintained a double-digit lead (55-44) at the end of the third quarter.

Morocco fought for their lives taking the game to a four-point battle (62-58) halfway through the last quarter but Kaluma went on a run, scoring 10 of his eventual 20 points in the last five minutes of the game to announce his arrival on the Ugandan roster.

Wainright 11 points and 12 rebounds, Eric Rwahire (14 points), and John Deng Geu (10 points) made significant contributions in the victory.

The Silverbacks will now join Senegal, Cameroon, and debutants South Sudan in Group D.

. 

Recent Comments