Namuwongo Blazers have confirmed their 12-man squad for the Road To BAL Group D qualifiers as they prepare to face Comoros’ Ushindzi at Hoima Arena on Wednesday.
The Ugandan champions take on Ushindzi at 7:00 p.m., hoping to start their campaign with a victory and move a step closer to the Elite 16.
Blazers strengthened their squad with experienced players from across the continent and beyond, with Spanish coach Luis Lopez Hernandez tasked with guiding them through the qualifiers.
Hernandez has a strong record in the competition, having guided Mozambique’s Ferroviario da Beira to the BAL on two occasions.
The tournament in Hoima runs until October 25, with five teams fighting for two places in the next round. Besides the Blazers and Ushindzi, the contest features Madagascar’s COSPN, South Sudan’s Patriots and Burundi’s Urunani.
Experienced recruits boost Blazers
American shooting guard Richaud Pack is among the new faces expected to make a difference for the Blazers. He brings experience from college basketball and professional stints in Cyprus, Austria, Israel and Greece.
Nigerian centre Peter Olisemaka also joins the team after playing for Maktown Flyers during the 2025-26 BAL campaign, where he averaged nine points and 10 rebounds per game.
Standing six-foot-eight, Olisemaka adds size and strength under the basket. He has also played in leagues in Cyprus, Bulgaria, Poland, France and Romania.
American point guard John Jordan, a naturalised Congolese, adds more experience to the backcourt. He played college basketball at Texas A&M, featured in the NBA G League and has played professionally in Finland, Belgium, Poland, Germany, Serbia and Morocco.
Senegalese forward Makhtar Gueye is another major addition. His previous clubs include Ferroviario da Beira, Dynamo of Burundi, Kadji Sports of Cameroon and teams in Spain and Senegal.
Gueye also brings international experience, having helped Senegal win bronze at the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket. He featured for the country at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The Blazers have also retained Franck Nyembo Fataki, who stood out in last season’s domestic league, while Edrine Ekau has joined from Rezlife Saints.
The new arrivals are expected to give the team more options in scoring, rebounding and defence as they pursue a place in Africa’s premier club basketball competition.
The 12-man squad
Blazers will rely on five guards and seven forwards and centres for the qualifying campaign.
Backcourt: Edrine Ekau, Tonny Drileba, John Jordan, Richaud Pack and Jimmy Enabu.
Frontcourt: Franck Nyembo Fataki, Peter Olisemaka, James Okello, Arthur Wanyoto, Makhtar Gueye, Peter Obleng and Moses Mugisha.
Head coach: Luis Lopez Hernandez
Assistant coaches: Stephen Nyeko Escodata, Daniel Jjuko
Ushindzi pose first test
Ushindzi will be determined to spoil the hosts’ plans.
The Comorian club, also known as Ushindzi de Ouani, was founded in 1976 and is based in Ouani. It qualified for the Road to BAL after emerging among the leading teams in Comoros’ domestic competitions.
The club has won several Comoros Basketball Championship titles, including in 2015 and 2023, and has regularly competed in FIBA Africa Zone 7 tournaments and the preliminary rounds of the Road to BAL.
Coach Yacine Mohamed has a squad featuring Brundo Botostara, Luco Ramiandrisoa, Abal Kisse Ali, Said Ali Said Hamid Djibril, Djamal-Edine, Toihar Abdallah, Mohamed Daoud Abdallah, Saindou Houmadi, Ansal Salim, El Farouk El Farouk, Nayal Ounzairou and Ibrahim Maoulida Said.
One player the Blazers must watch is Ansal Salim, who averages eight rebounds per game. His work under the basket could prove important in a contest where controlling possession and second-chance opportunities may determine the outcome.
Tough schedule awaits
After Wednesday’s opener, the Blazers face COSPN on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. before meeting Patriots on Saturday at 6:00 pm. They will complete their campaign against Urunani on Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
The schedule leaves little room for mistakes, with only the top two teams progressing to the Elite 16, which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from November 24 to 29, 2026.