The Uganda Senior national basketball team will not travel to Angola to compete in the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers set for November 26-28, due to lack of funds. Known as the “Silverbacks,” the team recently showcased good basketball, finishing sixth at the Afrobasket tournament that unfolded in September in Kigali. A statement by the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) stated that they have failed to secure funds from the government to facilitate their trip to Benguela - Angola. “FUBA on a very sad note wishes to inform you that the senior men’s national basketball team (The Silverbacks) will not compete at the FIBA World Qualifiers – window 1 in Benguela (Angola) from 26-28 November,” it read. “FUBA was informed by the government of Uganda, through the National Council of Sports (NCS) that there was no money to support the team for this particular campaign.” “Having put a splendid performance at the Afrobasket finals in Kigali recently and making the quarter the quarter finals, finishing number 6 overall, this team had a genuine chance to be among the top 5 countries in Africa and make the World cup for the first time in the history of Ugandan basketball,” the statement sadly noted. “The Team has been undergoing intensive training on a daily basis in preparation for this campaign,” it added. The Silverbacks needed approximately UGX 380 Million to make thetrip.
