Uganda U18 W vs Kenya U18 W

Uganda controlled the game from the opening tip, taking a 20-13 lead after the first quarter. Taliba established herself early as a mismatch inside, drawing fouls and converting at the line. The Junior Gazelles shot 61.5% from the free-throw line across the game, with Taliba accounting for 11 of her 15 free-throw attempts.

Foul trouble checked Uganda's momentum in the second period. Kenya attempted 18 free throws in the quarter (making 11), which kept the scoreboard ticking over despite Uganda shooting a higher percentage from the field. Maria Nanyonga knocked down two three-pointers during the quarter, and Taliba added eight more points in the paint, helping Uganda carry a 40-31 lead into the break.

The third quarter was the decisive battleground. Kenya trimmed the deficit to 48-44 with 5:19 left in the period, but Uganda responded with a 16-6 run to close the quarter holding a 64-50 lead. Rose Musundi was the catalyst, scoring 13 points in the quarter alone.

Kenya's legs gave out in the fourth quarter. Uganda opened the final period with a 12-0 run, stretching the lead to 26 points. The Junior Gazelles outscored Kenya 20-7 in the fourth quarter, shooting 20 points in every period while holding their opponents to single digits in the final frame.

The game flipped for good during that 5-minute stretch late in the third quarter. Uganda had gone quiet as Kenya's pressure defence forced turnovers and created transition chances. Once Uganda steadied and Musundi found her range, the 16-6 surge created a 14-point cushion that Kenya — already battling foul issues and fatigue — could not dent.

Melissa Taliba (Uganda) — Player of the Match. The forward finished with 25 points and 15 rebounds (33 efficiency rating per FIBA), making 7 of 11 field goals and 11 of 15 free throws. She was the primary reason Uganda controlled the paint throughout.

Rose Musundi (Uganda) — Scored 25 points, with 23 coming after halftime. Her third-quarter burst (13 points) stopped Kenya's momentum cold and effectively sealed the win.

Vanessa Nakalembe (Uganda) — The floor general posted 12 assists, 7 rebounds and 6 steals, orchestrating Uganda's offence and disrupting Kenya's passing lanes.

Rihanna Mercy Nyalando (Kenya) — The top scorer for Kenya with 12 points (per FIBA game leaders), fighting hard inside despite Uganda's size advantage.

The quarter-by-quarter scores (20-13, 20-18, 24-19, 20-7) show a game that was closer than the final margin for 25 minutes before Uganda's depth took over. Uganda's 36% field-goal shooting was modest, but they attempted significantly more shots (59 attempts to Kenya's 44) thanks to 18 offensive rebounds and 10 steals. Kenya's 25% shooting from the floor included just 20.7% from three-point range (6/29), making it impossible to close the gap against a Ugandan team that scored 20 points in every quarter.

Uganda led for 37 minutes and 2 seconds of the 40-minute contest — Kenya held the lead for just 14 seconds. The 30-point biggest lead and a 15-0 scoring run reflected Uganda's complete control after the midway point.

The win put Uganda 1-0 in Group A of the 12-team FIBA U18 Women's AfroBasket 2026, hosting 24 teams across the tournament in Abidjan. Kenya fell to 0-1 and faced an uphill battle for quarter-final qualification. Uganda's next fixture was against tournament co-hosts Côte d'Ivoire on 8 August — a game that would likely decide top spot in Group A.

Uganda entered this tournament with limited preparation time compared to a Kenya side that had played together at the Zone V qualifiers. None of that mattered once the ball went up. Taliba's interior dominance and Musundi's explosive second half gave Uganda a one-two punch that Kenya had no answer for. If the Junior Gazelles can maintain this intensity, they look well-equipped to challenge for a top-four finish in Abidjan.