FIBA 2019 World Cup qualifiers
Nigeria vs Uganda
Lagos, Nigeria
Friday, 29-06-2019
Uganda will resume their 2019 World cup qualifiers in Lagos on Friday when they take on home side and group B favorites Nigeria.
Uganda go into the second phase of qualification second in group B and will be hoping they get the desired results to progress to the next round.
The Silverbacks will derive confidence from the first leg performance against Nigeria in which they marched D’Tigers for most part of the game before falling 102-86.
Robinson Opong and Jimmy Enabu had breakout games during the first legs and are the leading scores in the African Qualifiers. The duo averaged 21 and 18 points respectively through the first three games, logging over 30 minutes each.
Head coach George Galanopoulos who missed the first phase will hope his new boys Jordin Mayes, Emmanuel Mugenga and John Deng Geu as well as returning Ivan Lumanyika and Samuel Kalwanying show out.
Going up against a relatively bigger side, Galanopoulos seems to have it all figured out.
“If we do have a strength, our strength is our speed and our quickness, more than anything, said Galanopoulos.
“So other teams that may have a size advantage on us we have a speed and quickness advantage against them.
Samuel Kalwanyi, Deng Geu and Ivan Lumanyika will have some work on their hands when they go up against Nigeria’s skipper and best player in the qualifiers thus far Ike Diogu and seven-footer Jeleel Akindeele.
D’Tigers re-enforced their roster adding six new faces and will have a few things to prove in front of home fans. Youngster Jordan Nwora is expected to complement the traditional back court of Ben Uzoh and Bryant Mbamalu.
Uganda had a training camp in Turkey last weeek as part of the team’s preparations where they finished with a 2-3 record.
In the other game of the group B, Mali will face Rwanda.
In the second round, the top three teams from each group will be placed in a group with three other top teams.
All results from the first qualification round, except for results against teams that don’t advance, are carried over to the second round.
Games will be played in September 2018, November 2018 and February 2019. The top two teams in each group along with the better placed third team will qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup proper.
Group B standings:
- Nigeria 6pts
- Uganda 4pts
- Mali 4pts
- Rwanda 4pts
