Uganda embarked on the road to the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup last month in Mali’s capital Bamako.
The Silverbacks put up a solid performance culminating into a second place finish in Group B after the first leg of the qualifiers.
It was mixed results for the Silverbacks as they dropped the first two games to Nigeria and Mali before trouncing Rwanda, but the plan was to win atleast two games.
“Our target was to take at least two games but that did not happen as we fell to Nigeria and Mali. The game against Rwanda was just a must-win because we had no choice and needed to remain in contention by the next round,” Silverbacks shooting guard Robinison Odoch Opong told FIBA.
Despite Opong’s scoring onslaught – finishing with 53 points in Bamako, Uganda sit in a slippery second place ahead of Mali and Rwanda but both have the same record (1-2) as the Silverbacks.
The 28-year-old who joined Spanish third division side Avila says nothing will be left to chance as Nigeria, Mali and Rwanda will all come out fighting for a place at the Second Round of Africa Qualifiers.
“The next window means the world to us because we have great ambitions of making it to the Second Round. I know the next three games in June-July will be very tough and we’re all aware of that.
“We will give our all to ensure that we maintain this second place and improve our points for the next round. Every point matters and we can’t afford to rest on our oars until the job is done.”