Uganda’s national basketball team, the Silverbacks suffered another defeat, falling 59-82 in a Group D clash of their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers on Saturday at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda in Angola.
Uganda’s Nick Sibande took an early 2-0 lead, but Mali responded immediately through Aliou Fadiala Diarra and never trailed again.
A 14-4 run in the opening quarter gave Mali control, and they steadily increased their advantage throughout the game.
Siriman Kanoute led all scorers with 20 points, adding five assists and two rebounds, while shooting 4-for-8 from three-point range.
Diarra contributed 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists, finishing 6-for-8 from the field as Mali controlled both ends of the court.
Mali pulled away decisively in the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run that stretched the lead from 60-43 to 70-43, putting the result beyond doubt.
Their biggest lead of the game reached 29 points before they settled for a 23-point victory.
For Uganda, Deng Geu was the standout performer with 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists and one block.
Robinson Opong and Titus Odeke briefly inspired a second-quarter comeback with back-to-back three-pointers that cut the deficit to three points, but Mali quickly regained control.
Mali led for more than 38 minutes of the contest and shot efficiently throughout the game to secure an impressive opening win in the Group D qualifiers.
Sibande and Opong contributed 12 and 10 points respectively in defeat while Edrine Ekau marked his cameo with a three pointer.
The defeat, fifth in as many games including the first window, ends Uganda’s faint hopes of progressing in the qualification window.
The Silverbacks, coached by Mande Juruni, will now face Egypt on Sunday in their last group game.
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