The Uganda Men’s national basketball team, Silverbacks, have arrived in Morocco ahead of their crucial AfroBasket qualifier.
The team will face Morocco on Thursday, July 8 at the Salle Bouazzaoui Arena.
Uganda needs victory to seal a spot at the finals in Kigali, Rwanda later this year. A loss means they will need to win their final game later this month to qualify.
The Silverbacks spent the last four days in Cairo, Egypt where they have been camping so as to beef up preparations for the game on Thursday.
They are understood to have departed Egypt on Saturday morning and arrived in Morocco later in the day.
Currently, the camp is close to full capacity with only French-based Centre Ishmail Wainwright yet to arrive. Wainwright asked for a few days off as he recovers from the just concluded French League.
After winning two of their opening four games, the George Galanopoulos coach side needs just a single victory from their final two games to reach the finals.
If they beat Morocco, they will automatically qualify for the Afrobasket finals, but if not they will have to play Cape Verde on 15th July and if triumphant they will qualify for the said finals.
However, if Silverbacks lose all their Group E games, it will then go down to goal difference with Morocco needing a +8 win over Uganda while Cape Verde need a +6 win to come atop Uganda. Egypt is already qualified for the finals but the top three teams from each group and a wildcard will form the 16 teams that will qualify for Afrobasket finals.
Silverbacks Afrobasket Team currently in Morocco
Jimmy Enabu (City Oilers), James Okello (City Oilers), Tonny Drileba (City Oilers), Benjamin Komakech (City Oilers), Titus Odeke (UCU Canons), Ronson Odoch Opong (Canada), Eric Rwahwire (Canada), Keiran Zziwa (Canada), Ghedi Muhamed (USA), Geu Dengeu John (Denmark), Arthur Kaluma (USA).
Coaches
George Galanopoulos, Mandy Juruni, Michael Schmitz and Andrew Tendo Senyondwa.