Gazelles Final Roster – Flavia Oketcho (Captain), Evelyn Nakiyingi, Lydia Babirye, Brenda Ekone, Rita Imanishimwe, Jannon Otto, Abby Priscilla, Claire Lamunu, Jane Asinde, Melissa Akullu, Hope Akello, Maria Najjuma
JT Lady Jaguars Power Forward Sarah Ageno has not made the Gazelles final roster for the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket.
Ageno is not on the 12-player list seen by this website as the Gazelles enter residential camp on Sunday at Onomo Hotel.
It’s a rather disappointing development for Ageno who has been the best player in the ongoing NBL campaign.
She is averaging 14 points and 12 rebounds this season with newly promoted JT Ladies, in a campaign she has made the Player-of-the-match award her own.
Ageno hadn’t missed the Gazelles trainings at Africa Bible University in Lubowa until Saturday when her JT side had a league game.
She will feel hard done by the selectors’ decision, but it was always going to be tough especially to secure a spot given a stacked front court.
Five of ten local based players – all from JKL Lady Dolphins – Flavia Oketcho, Evelyn Nakiyingi, Brenda Ekon, Rita Imanishimwe and Hope Akello – have made the cut.
The other seven on the final roster including Claire Lamunu who is yet to join camp, are foreign-based players.
The other six are Abby Priscilla, Lydia Babirye, Melissa Akullu, Jane Asinde, Maria Najjuma and Jannon Otto, the latter having attended Saturday’s session.
UCU Lady Canons trio of Shakira Nanvubya, Bridget Aber and Shilla Lamunu have not made the grade.
Leticia Awor (JKL) and Victoria Mukisa (Simpson College) picked injuries while Jamila ‘Zama’ Nansikombi (Troy University) did not honour the invite.
The 2023 AfroBasket Women will be the 26th edition of the tournament and held from 28 July to 6 August 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Gazelles are in Group C alongside Mali and Senegal for a tournament due July 28 to August 6.
It’s strong to note that the Gazelles will be making their third appearance on the continent after debuting in 1997 before returning for the 2015 edition held in Cameroon
