APR BBC star Justin Uwitonze has been drafted into Rwanda’s national basketball team for the upcoming 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers, replacing injured Kepler BBC guard Cyiza Chandelier.
The call-up comes as a reward for Uwitonze’s impressive form in the national league, where he has emerged as one of the country’s most influential players. He has scored 150 points so far this season and leads the league in three-pointers made with 46.
Rwanda is preparing for Window III of the FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Luanda, Angola, from July 2 to 5.
The national team faces an uphill task after losing all three of its opening qualification matches, leaving it at the bottom of Group C, which also features Guinea, Tunisia, and Nigeria.
Under head coach Yves Murenzi, Rwanda will open its campaign in Angola against Guinea before taking on Tunisia and Nigeria.
With only the top teams progressing to the next stage of qualification, Rwanda must secure positive results in all its remaining fixtures to keep alive its hopes of reaching the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar.
The squad selected for the Angola qualifiers includes Justin Uwitonze among the players tasked with reviving Rwanda’s World Cup ambitions.
