Uganda’s Gazelles will once again aim to finish seventh at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket as they prepare to take on hosts Ivory Coast, following a tough 76-58 loss to Mozambique in the classification stage on Thursday.
Just days after their narrow one-point quarterfinal defeat to South Sudan (69-68), the Gazelles entered the classification tie still carrying the emotional weight of a missed semifinal opportunity. That loss had already dashed hopes of a historic top-four finish — and the hangover showed.
Mozambique took advantage of Uganda’s slow start, racing to a 21-14 first-quarter lead and stretching it to 43-31 by halftime. The Gazelles, who had earlier stunned Group C with commanding wins over Guinea and 11-time champions Senegal, couldn’t recapture that early-tournament spark.
Hope Akello once again led Uganda’s scoring with 18 points, while Perus Nyamwenge chipped in 10. However, the usually reliable duo of captain Jane Asinde and sharp-shooter Paige Robinson struggled to find rhythm, combining for just 15 points in a subdued offensive display.
Mozambique, on the other hand, showed balance and control throughout the match, led by Stephania Chiziane’s 16 points. The Southern African side had four players in double figures, underlining their team-oriented execution and energy.
A win would have guaranteed Uganda a chance to play for fifth place — a position they have never reached. Now, they’re left battling for the same 7th-place finish they recorded at the 2023 edition in Kigali.
Saturday’s clash against the Ivorians offers one last chance for the Gazelles to finish the tournament on a high note — not as a breakthrough campaign, but as another step forward in building consistency and closing the gap with Africa’s elite.
