Group F Rwanda’s first-leg fixtures September 14 Senegal Vs Rwanda September 15 Rwanda Vs Cote d’Ivoire September 16 Rwanda Vs CAR Rwanda national men’s senior basketball team will today start rigorous training in a residential camp in preparation of the second round of 2019 FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers. The team, under the tutelage of Serbian coach Vladimir Bosnjak and his assistant Maxime Mwiseneza, are in camp at Five to Five Hotel in Remera and will be conducting their daily training sessions at Petit Stade-Remera before departing to Nigeria on September 10. Rwanda’s Group F first leg fixtures are scheduled for September 14-16 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos, Nigeria. The competition will attract six teams that advanced to the second round of qualifiers last month. They include Nigeria, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal and Rwanda. According to Mwiseneza, of the 20 players that have been in a non-residential training for the last two weeks, only 13 were due to be selected for residential training camp. Foreign-based players were also expected to join the team before end of the week. “We expect all the foreign based players to be here not later than September 4,” he said. Six foreign based players who are expected to join the team include Dan Manzi (USA), Adonis Rwabigwi (USA), Darrius Garret (USA), Kenneth Gasana (Morocco), Placide Uwizeye (France), and Kevin Ndahiro (USA). The first game for Vladmir Bosjnak’s side is slated for September 14, against Senegal, before they could face Cote d’Ivoire the following day and then Central African Republic on September 16. Rwanda progressed to second round qualifiers as Group B first runners-up, behind leaders Nigeria, while Mali advanced as second runners-up of the group. To form the six-team Group F for the ultimate round of qualifiers, Group B teams were merged with the best three teams from Group D, which was led by Senegal followed by Central African Republic and then Cote d’Ivoire. All first round results will be carried forward to the second round and teams from the same group in the first round will not meet again, meaning that Rwanda will only play teams that came from Group D namely; Senegal, Central African Republic and Cote d’Ivoire. As per the first round results, Nigeria lead Group F with 12 points followed by Senegal with 11 points, while Central African Republic and Rwanda complete top four with nine points each. Cote d’Ivoire and Mali are fifth and sixth respectively, with eight points apiece. The inaugural 32-team edition of FIBA’s flagship competition will take place from August 31-September 15, 2019 in China. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
