Rwanda leads Group C of the FIBA U18 AfroBasket after a hard-fought 56-51 victory over Morocco at the University of Pretoria Arena.
Following a strong opening game against the hosts on Tuesday, Rwanda claimed another victory at FIBA U18 AfroBasket today, September 6, over Morocco, not only to move to the top of the group but also securing a spot in the quarterfinals.
Rwanda had a rough start, struggling with their shooting as they converted only one shot out of 18 attempts, including 0-7 on 2-point field goals. This resulted in an 8-13 deficit in the first quarter against a very dynamic team in paint, Morocco.
Led by Sean Williams Mwesigwa, Rwanda surged back in the second quarter, scoring 24 points while conceding 17 to take a two-point lead in the break.
Mwesigwa and his teammates continued their momentum after the halftime with an 8-1 run, pushing their lead to 40-32. Although Morocco turned the tide by narrowing the gap to one point, Plamedie Kayira hit a crucial three-pointer to restore a four-point advantage heading into the final quarter.
The Yves Murenzi coached team made effective use of their bench and played a solid defense to close out the game with 56-51, highlighted by an outstanding offensive performance from Dylan Lebson Kayijuka.
Kayijuka, Rwanda’s leading scorer, posted a game high of 20 points from 7-20 field goals in 35 minutes spent on the floor. Sean Williams Mwesigwa added 16 points, while Jonas Singiza made significant contributions on defense with 6 rebounds and 5 steals.
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This win puts Rwanda at the top of their group with a 2-0 record. With the tournament format advancing the top two teams from each group, along with the best third-place teams from three groups, Rwanda has secured their spot in the quarterfinals.
Rwanda will be back on the floor on Monday, September 9, against Zambia.
