Uganda’s U16 Boys’ Basketball team, the Junior Silverbacks, stumbled in their 2025 Afrobasket opener, falling 50-57 to Cameroon on Tuesday. Despite a strong defensive effort, Uganda struggled to convert scoring opportunities at critical moments, allowing Cameroon to build and maintain a lead.
The first quarter was tightly contested, with Cameroon narrowly ahead 18-15. However, Uganda’s shooting woes and an 8-0 Cameroonian run in the closing two minutes of the second quarter gave the visitors a decisive 35-22 halftime advantage. In the second half, Uganda’s defense improved, limiting Cameroon to just two points during a five-minute stretch in the fourth quarter, but the offense could not respond, scoring only seven points in that period.
Uganda forced several turnovers and created scoring chances, yet missed layups and open shots cost them. Statistically, Cameroon outrebounded Uganda by 14 boards and had a better field goal percentage (32% versus Uganda’s 23%), factors that ultimately determined the result.
Head coach Michael Seger acknowledged the need to address the team’s finishing and shooting struggles. The Junior Silverbacks now face Guinea and Tunisia in their upcoming matches, where regrouping and sharpening their offense will be essential to rebound from this opening defeat.