Uganda’s gazelles beat DRC’s Leopards 78-62 to qualify for their first ever Women’s AfroBasket Quarter-Finals and the forward Jannon Otto praised the charming friendship in the squad as the key ahead of Rwanda clash
Uganda’s Gazelles have defied all the odds and qualify to the Quarter-finals despite being considered underdogs. They achieved the milestone yesterday after a well-deserved 78-62 triumph against their neighbors, DR Congo.
Following Uganda’s amazing game, the Gazelles’ small forward, who had another stellar performance of 18 points and 9 rebounds, addressed the media to discuss her integration and sympathy into the team, as well as her optimism for the upcoming assignment.
She commenced by raving about how kind her teammates are.
“My teammates are the best, I love them so much. Probably one of the best teams I’ve played for, Just like with how well I think we play for each other, we’re not like selfish or worried about ourselves.”
“I think we’re just worried about trying to do, what we can to win; which is just really fun to play. We’re just trying to play for Uganda, which I think is really cool.”
“They’re just so welcoming to me all the time. Obviously my culture is way different, High group is way different, My experiences are way different, but they just really welcome me and make me feel like I’m part of the family. So I love them,” added tbe Gazelles’ forward
Jannon Jaye Otto, a Ugandan American, opted to represent Uganda since February 2023, and since then, her dedication, devotion, and tenacity are undeniably impressive.
Otto led the Gazelles through the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Zone V Qualifiers AfroBasket, where she wowed the fans with her prodigious abilities and established herself as one of the best athletes to wear the Ugandan jerseys. She was named the tournament’s best small forward, earning her a spot in the tournament’s best five as well as helping her country qualify for the 2023 Women’s AfroBasket.
Otto is the leading scorer for the Gazelles in the ongoing AfroBasket event, scoring 47.8% of her field goals and 84.6% from the free throw line.
Before facing Rwanda in the quarter-finals, she averages 19.3 points per game (second best in the competition after Egypt’s Nadine Mohamed Sayed Soliman), 3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds.
The 26-year-old, currently plying her trade to Eastern Mavericks of the Australian National Basketball League, is looking forward to the East African rivalry against the 2023 AfroBasket host nation.
She expresses her excitement to play Rwanda in a really exciting manner.
“I am super excited to play them. The atmosphere’s been crazy. I think we live for like big moments. We kind of have been underdogs the whole tournament, it’s kind of like the identity we’ve took on.”
“So, I feel like it’s a big challenge for us, but we’re excited for the challenge, we’re excited to compete with them, excited to play another day, and see how it goes,” stated Otto
During the Zone V qualifiers in Kampala, Uganda defeated Rwanda 78-70, with Otto posting a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds.
The match versus Rwanda will be a thrilling game since both countries have reached the quarterfinals for the very first time.
Senegal will rub shoulders with Cameroon in the other quarterfinal game, while Mali faces Guinea, and Nigeria take on Mozambique. The games are set to take place at BK Arena today, August 2.
The match between Rwanda and Uganda is scheduled for 6 p.m. CAT, 7 p.m. EAT.
