KIGALI (Rwanda) - Uganda secured their slot to the FIBA U16 Women's Africa Championship 2019 following three consecutive wins at the ongoing Zone 5 Qualifiers that tipped off on Monday in the Rwandan capital Kigali. 

This is the very first time that Uganda will be playing at this tournament that will attract the very best teams from the African continent including record five-time African champions Mali.

"WE ARE MORE THAN EXCITED BECAUSE THIS IS OUR NATION THAT WE ARE REPRESENTING AND WE ARE PROUD OF IT. OUR COACH AND TEAM WORK HELPED US AND WE ALSO FOCUSED ALL THROUGH."- Lamunu

Uganda opened their campaign with a 58-39 victory over neighbours Tanzania on Tuesday inspired by their captain Shilla Aber Lamunu who scored a game high 16 points.

Dependable centre Maria Najjuma's 21 rebounds and 12 points made the difference for Roger Serunyigo's side to level the ground with Tanzania who had handed the hosts a loss on the opening day of the regional tournament 74-63 a day earlier. 

On Wednesday, Uganda cruised past Rwanda 63-55 with Najjuma dropping an incredible 31 points and picking 36 rebounds to guide her team to a second straight win and an inch closer to qualification. Rwanda's Charlene Usanase scored a team high 12 points. 

The hosts then found their feet in their third game defeating Tanzania 61-54 even though the latter's best player Catherine Moller managed a game high 20 points and 12 rebounds. 

Coming into Friday's game, Uganda needed one more win to book their slot and indeed they meant business when they took on Tanzania the second time in the two-legged competition. 

Najjuma was at it again scoring 35 points and picking 34 rebounds to help Uganda win 78-36 in a very pronounced victory to seal a historic qualification to the continental showpiece.

Lamunu was full of praises for her teammate and she said, "She was the best rebounder throughout the tournament and she gave us the option of second chances on offence."

"We are more than excited because this is our nation that we are representing and we are proud of it. Our coach Roger and team work helped us and we also focused all through."

Serunyigo thanked his players for listening and following instructions. He said, "I am very impressed with them. I taught them new defence styles and they executed them 100%."

"Now we have a big chance to rub shoulders with the big nations. We hope to put up a good fight there and learn a lot. I am going to see if I can get more time develop their weak areas."

Lamunu was voted as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament for inspiring Uganda to the African showpiece where the Junior Gazelles will be competing for the very first time. 

Uganda now join the 2017 African champions Mali, runners up Angola, Egypt and Mozambique who finished as semifinalists and have automatically qualified. 

FIBA