After losing three straight games in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, the Uganda Silverbacks find themselves in a challenging situation, having been stranded in Egypt.
Silverbacks, find themselves in a precarious position following the sudden closure of Dubai International Airport due to escalating instability between Iran and the United States.
The team, currently in Alexandria was scheduled to fly out tonight. However, with much of the regional airspace now a no-fly zone and their primary transit hub in Dubai shuttered, the contingent is effectively stranded between a rock and a hard place.
The gravity of the situation has prompted an emergency meeting among team officials and basketball leadership to determine the next course of action.
“There is a meeting that is going to happen at 11:00 am (12:00pm EAT). We await to see what will come of that meeting,” confirmed Brian Tuka, Silverbacks media officer.
The Silverbacks hold tickets routed through Dubai, a route that is currently impossible to navigate.
With major carriers suspending operations until further notice, the team is being forced to explore alternative, and likely more costly, travel options to ensure a safe return.
Despite the tension, there is a sense of calm within the camp, as the top leadership of Uganda’s basketball leadership is currently in Alexandria with the players.
“The basketball leadership is with the team in Alexandria, so we are confident that they will come up with a solution,” Tuka added.
The closure of Dubai Airport, one of the world’s busiest travel hubs follows retaliatory strikes in the region that have disrupted global aviation.
For the Silverbacks, this logistical nightmare comes on the heels of a gruelling qualifying window where they faced continental giants Angola, Mali, and hosts Egypt.
While the players’ primary focus has been on the court, the focus has now shifted entirely to safety and logistics. The outcome of the midday meeting will determine whether the team seeks an alternative route.