Despite losing their opening two matches at the 2016 Women’s African Volleyball Olympics Qualifiers against Algeria and Egypt, the Lady Volleyball Cranes will face Botswana on Sunday afternoon in Cameroon Yaoundé playing for more than pride.
A lot is at stake as both teams find themselves in a similar situation going into their last preliminary round match, needing a win to avoid finishing last at the tournament.
Uganda went down 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-19) against Egypt on Friday the same day Algeria taught Botswana a volleyball lesson (25-22, 25-22, 25-10).
It was the same story on Saturday as Uganda were defeated by Algeria in straight sets (25-22, 25-14, 25-12) and Botswana struggled against Egypt in similar fashion (25-21, 25-23, 25-17).
Against Botswana, Uganda will have to up their defensive game, which has been a big concern in the first two game.
Against Egypt, coach Tonny Lakony went with Saidat Nnungi and Zaina Kagoya, while Joan Nabbuto started ahead of Nnungi in the second set.
The trio managed a combined six points out of the 49 points Uganda won, Peace Busingye was Uganda’s best performer with nine.
Nnungi and Nabbuto were the busiest on the net defensively, each managing seven attempts but registered just two points off their blocks.
Against Algeria, Nnungi and Kagoya again started, the former was Uganda’s best performer with nine points while the latter put only one on the scoresheet out of the 48 points Uganda scored.
Uganda’s best blockers were actually outer attackers, Busingye and Margaret Namyalo who attempted five and six blocks respectively and scored thrice and twice.
The winner between Uganda and Botswana will lineup against Tunisia for a classification match for positions five and six.
Tunisia lost both Group B matches to hosts Cameroon 3-2 (25-20, 25-20, 29-31, 21-25, 15-6) and against Kenya 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-23).
Egypt and Algeria will be vying for group A bragging rights where the winner will play against the second team in Group B which will be decided after Cameroon and Kenya play against each other.