VECHTA (Germany) - When African basketball comes up, very few people consider Uganda. Deng Geu is out to change that, and a strong performance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers could go a long way in that effort.

Uganda currently ranks 90th in the FIBA World Rankings Presented By NIKE and stands at 13th among African teams. But the eastern African country has reached the last three FIBA AfroBaskets and improved each time - finishing in sixth place at Rwanda 2021.

The Silverbacks also played at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers and managed a win over Rwanda in collecting a 1-5 record and failing to advance to the Second Round.

"IN THIS WINDOW I'M LOOKING TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE AND CONTRIBUTE ANYWAY I CAN TO HELP US WIN."
- Deng Geu

The 24-year-old Geu was not part of the Uganda team in the February 2018 FIBA window in which they knocked off Rwanda 79-63. But he did play in the summer 2018 window and averaged 13.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.

"What I've learned from playing in previous tournaments with the national team is that every team fights extremely hard to represent their country to the best of their abilities. So it's important not to come into games thinking it's going to go a certain way because of how they performed in the previous tournament," said Geu, who could not play in the February 2018 window because he was playing collegiately in the United States for North Dakota State University.

Rwanda actually has a connection with Uganda as The Silverbacks made history there. They knocked off Cameroon in the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Group Phage to reach the Qualification to the Quarter-Finals.

 
That is where they surprised Nigeria 80-68 to advance to the top eight, with Geu picking up 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. That came after Nigeria had defeated them twice in the World Cup 2019 qualification campaign. Uganda would go on to lose to Cape Verde in the Quarter-Finals.

Uganda will not need to wait long to try to exact some revenge though as they are drawn into the same Group A of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers as Cape Verde. The other two teams who will play in the November 26-28 window in Benguela, Angola are Mali and Nigeria.

"I think we will be excited to get another chance to compete against Cape Verde," said Geu, who had 4 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists in the loss to Cape Verde.

 
He added that the experience at AfroBasket could also help in their last game in the window against Nigeria.

"Nigeria is always a tough team to play against, so we will definitely have to be ready for a fight. But I think it's also nice going in with the confidence that we have beat them before," said Geu, who plays in Germany for second division side Rasta Vechta.

A major reason for Uganda's strong performance at FIBA AfroBasket 2021 was Ishmail Wainwright, who averaged 12.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.0 steals. Wainwright will not be available, however, for the up-coming window as he signed a contract with the Phoenix Suns in the NBA.

"Ish is defiantly a big part of our team and was a guy who can do it all. We are going to miss Ish for sure, but I feel like guys will step up to fill the void," said Geu. "In this window I'm looking to be more aggressive and contribute anyway I can to help us win."

 
Sure Wainwright was a big part of Uganda's success this past summer, but The Silverbacks are ready to show they are much more.

"The Uganda national team is continuously striving to get better. I think we are going towards the right direction to becoming a team that comes in mind when you think of top basketball teams in Africa," Geu said.

Being able to produce wins later this month in Angola will certainly leave an impression on peoples' minds.

FIBA