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APR Stun Kepler 105-80 to Maintain Perfect Start in Rwanda Basketball League 2025.

Rwanda Basketball League
Aliou Diarra Fadiala's 27 points powered APR to a dominant win over Kepler in the Rwanda Basketball League.
APR Basketball Club dominated Kepler with a commanding 105-80 victory in the Rwanda Basketball League, extending their perfect 4-0 record and securing the top spot.

 

A decisive 15-point advantage in the second quarter paved the way for APR’s triumph in the game played on Thursday, February 6, at Petit Stade.

The back-to-back defending champions led Kepler by nine points in the first quarter (26-17). However, a dominant second quarter (37-22) widened the gap significantly, making it difficult for Kepler to stage a comeback.

In a high-scoring game filled with three-pointers, Kepler managed to edge APR in the third quarter (24-23), momentarily halting APR’s momentum as they rotated their entire roster.

By the final quarter, APR had the win in sight, letting their bench play more. They outscored Kepler 19-17 in the last period, sealing the game at 105-80.

All APR players saw at least 10 minutes of action, with Ali Kazingufu being the only one who didn’t score. Aliou Diarra led the game with 27 points on an efficient 11-14 shooting, while Osborn Shema recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Kepler, missing two key players—Olivier Turatsinze and Chad Bowie Jordan, both former league MVPs—relied heavily on Imani Rutayisire and Herve Irakoze.

The duo combined for 40 points, scoring 20 each, but their efforts weren’t enough to prevent Kepler from suffering their second consecutive league defeat.

APR shot 43-75 from the field, including 10-31 from beyond the arc, while Kepler went 29-74, making 11-28 from three-point range. APR dominated the paint with 66 points compared to Kepler’s 32.

With the win, APR maintains their perfect 4-0 start, followed by REG at 3-0. Kepler now stands at 1-2.

Both teams will return to action on Sunday, February 9, at LDK, with APR facing UGB and Kepler taking on Espoir.

Rwanda Basketball League
Chandelier Cyiza Twizerimana scored 16 points
Rwanda Basketball League
Osborn Shema recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Rwanda Basketball League
Kepler’s Mandy Juruni had a tough start in the Rwanda Basketball League 2025
Rwanda Basketball League
Aliou Diarra was unstoppable in the paint.
Rwanda Basketball League
Herve Irakoze delivered a 20-point performance.
Rwanda Basketball League
Imani Rutayisire also delivered a strong 20-point performance as well.

Uganda’s Gazelles Crush Burundi to Reach the Women’s AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers Zonal Final

Women's AfroBasket
Uganda defeated Burundi to finish the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2025 Zone V Qualifiers group stage with a 3-1 record.
Uganda’s Gazelles crushed Burundi 66-30 in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers, finishing the group stage with a 3-1 record and securing a place in the winner-takes-all Zonal final.

 

Coming off a crucial 89-63 victory against South Sudan, the Gazelles capitalized on facing a weaker Burundi side to seal a top-two finish in the group.

Burundi started strong, leading the first quarter 17-14, thanks to Ines Nezerwa’s seven points.

However, Coach Nicholas Natuhereza’s squad dominated defensively, limiting Burundi to just five points per quarter for the rest of the game and winning the last three quarters (15-4, 17-5, 20-4) to seal a commanding 36-point victory.

With the game under control, Coach Natuhereza rotated his squad, resting key players Paige Robinson, Hope Akello, Shakirah Nanvumbya, and captain Jane Asinde—who all logged over 33 minutes in the previous win against South Sudan.

No player exceeded 28 minutes, allowing Jamila Nansinkombi and Melissa Akullu, who didn’t feature against Kenya, valuable playing time.

Both players seized the opportunity, delivering double-digit performances. Zama led all scorers with 14 points and six rebounds, while Akullu contributed 12 points and seven boards.

Nezerwa, aka Giti, led Burundi with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Uganda’s victory secures their spot in the final, likely against Egypt, the only team to defeat them in this campaign. A win for Egypt over South Sudan today would set up the final with Uganda on February 8 at Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall.

The Zone V winner will earn a spot in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Women's AfroBasket
Jamila Nansinkombi ‘Zama’ scored a game-high 14 points.
Women's AfroBasket
Ines Nezerwa ‘Giti,’ Burundi’s leading scorer.
Women's AfroBasket
Uganda’s Gazelles advance to the winner-takes-all final
Women's AfroBasket
Burundi is eliminated

Uganda’s Comeback Falls Short Against Egypt in Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers

Women's AfroBasket Qualifiers
The Uganda National Basketball Team, the Gazelles, fought hard to overcome a 14-point deficit, but foul trouble proved costly as they fell to Egypt 62-65 in their second game of the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers.

 

The February 4 match at Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall saw Uganda welcome back Jamila Nansikombi after five years, though she had little impact after missing the first game due to visa issues.

The Gazelles struggled early, trailing 14-23 at the end of the first quarter, with the deficit growing to 14 points in the first two minutes of the second. However, Nicholas Natuhereza’s side mounted a strong comeback, narrowing the gap to just one point at halftime (32-33).

Egypt took control in the third quarter, limiting Uganda to just nine points. The Gazelles scored their first basket after six minutes, finishing the period behind 41-46.

Jane Asinde and Hope Akello led Uganda’s final-quarter charge, claiming their first lead at 51-50 after six minutes. However, Akello fouled out, and Nanvubya was in foul trouble, allowing Egypt, already in the bonus, to capitalize and regain momentum.

With 1:25 remaining, the game stood tied at 59-59, but Hala Elshaarawy and Farida Abdelnabi sank back-to-back layups to give Egypt a four-point cushion.

Uganda’s Robinson Paige responded with two free throws, but Elshaarawy’s late layup restored a two-possession lead with 19 seconds left.

Asinde had a chance to cut the deficit but converted only one of two free throws, sealing the 62-65 loss. 

Women's AfroBasket Qualifiers
Jane Asinde delivered another strong performance with 18 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists.
Women's AfroBasket Qualifiers
Uganda’s Robinson Paige topped all scorers with a game-high 24 points in the Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers against Egypt.
Women's Afrobasket Qualifiers
The experienced Raneem Elgedawy recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds as Egypt narrowly edged Uganda 65-62 in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers.

With this result, the Gazelles sit second in the standings behind undefeated Egypt.

Uganda takes on South Sudan Wednesday in a second-place battle following South Sudan’s win over Kenya.

A victory would improve Uganda’s standing before facing Burundi, the group’s weakest team, with the top two teams battling in a winner-takes-all final for a spot in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025.

Boissy’s 23 Points Power REG to Overcome Orion.

Boissy
Senegalese international point guard Jean Jacques Boissy scored 23 points to lead REG BBC to a 72-65 victory over Orion, securing their third consecutive win in the Rwanda Basketball League.

 

REG defeated Orion on February 3, with Boissy leading the way to keep their perfect start to the season.

In a rescheduled match from Day 1, REG followed up a dominant weekend victory over Espoir with another strong performance against Orion.

The Rwandan electricians started strong, taking a 7-point lead after the first quarter, 19-12.

They extended their advantage to nine points by halftime, leading 41-32. However, Orion fought back in the third quarter, erasing the deficit and taking a 5-point lead, putting REG’s unbeaten record under threat.

REG came out determined in the final quarter, and thanks to Boissy’s 10 points in the period, Maxime Mwiseneza’s team regained control and secured the 72-65 win to extend their winning streak to three.

Orion had beaten Kepler over the weekend, and the loss made it 1-2 in their opening three games.

Boissy’s 23 points were a game-high, and with a total of 54 points after three games, he ranks second in the league’s top scorers, just behind APR’s Aliou Diarra, who has 59 points.

Boissy
Boissy scored 23 points on 6-of-17 shooting from the field.

A former UGB and Patriots guard, Boissy is well-acquainted with the Rwanda Basketball League. Averaging 18 points per game and leading in three-pointers, he has quickly become one of the league’s standout recruits and a player to watch closely.

Boissy
Beleck Bell scored a team-high 20 points for Orion in his first game against REG BBC, his former club.

REG will next face UGB on Friday, February 7, at Kepler.

Uganda Beats Kenya in AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers Opener

AfroBasket
Uganda’s national women’s basketball team, the Gazelles, tipped off their FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025 Zone V Qualifiers with an emphatic 78-56 victory over Kenya’s Lionesses, thanks to captain Jane Asinde’s stellar 24-point performance.

 

The East African derby saw Uganda take full control from start to finish, with Kenya failing to lead at any point in the game (23-11, 17-17, 17-9, 21-19).

Uganda outperformed Kenya in every aspect, shooting 46.3% from the field compared to Kenya’s 26.2%. The Gazelles also capitalized on turnovers, scoring 18 points to Kenya’s 11, while dominating fast breaks (17-5) and points in the paint (38-14).

Despite missing key players Jamila Nansikombi ‘Zama’ and Melissa Akullu due to visa issues, Uganda relied on naturalized player Paige Robinson and captain Asinde.

Robinson impressed in her international debut with 15 points and six assists.

Asinde was the standout performer, shooting 10-of-19 from the field while adding nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals in 34 minutes.

AfroBasket
Captain Asinde gives it her all to lead Uganda to a strong start in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers Zone V opening game against Kenya.

For Kenya, Victoria Reynolds and Mercy Wanyama contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively.

The Gazelles started their journey on a positive note; however, the road ahead will not be easy. they will take on hosts Egypt tomorrow in their second game, face South Sudan on Wednesday, and finish the group stage against Burundi on Thursday.

AfroBasket
The Gazelles before rubbing shoulders with Lionesses in AfroBasket 2025 Q opening game.

The FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025 will begin on July 25 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, and Rwanda have already secured their places in this 29th edition of Africa’s top women’s basketball tournament, having finished in the top four of the previous edition held in Rwanda.

As the host nation, Côte d’Ivoire automatically qualifies, and the number of auto-qualified teams reduces the available qualification slots, making the path to Abidjan even more competitive.

Cameroon became the first team to qualify through the qualification campaign after winning Zone IV on August 21 last year.

The FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Zone V Qualifiers offer one spot, like the other zones, with five teams—Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, South Sudan, and Burundi—competing at the Hassan Mustafa Sports Hall in Cairo.

In a round-robin format, each team will play four games, and the top two teams will face off in a decisive final where a winner will secure the Zone V ticket and join Rwanda in Abidjan.

EAUR won the 2025 Basketball Heroes Tournament.

Heroes Tournament
Déo Nkusi, the executive secretary of CHENO, and Desire Mugwiza, the president of FERWABA, handed the Heroes Tournament trophy to the EAUR captain.
The East African University Rwanda defeated UR Kigali 76-44 to clinch this year’s Basketball Heroes Tournament, securing their first-ever silverware.

 

EAUR dominated UR Kigali to win the 2025 Basketball Heroes Day Tournament, which concluded on Sunday, February 2025.

FERWABA, in collaboration with Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders, and Decorations of Honor (CHENO), organized the competition, which began on January 29 and featured nine men’s second-division teams.

Heroes Tournament

EAUR clinched the championship by defeating UR Kigali 76-44 in the final, while Keplerians secured third place with a 72-49 win over Greater Virunga.

In the semifinals, EAUR triumphed over Keplerians 91-81, and UR Kigali advanced by beating Greater Virunga 71-61.

The Heroes Tournament honors Rwanda’s national heroes through various sports.

This year, National Heroes’ Day celebrated its 31st edition on February 1, under the theme “Heroism and Unity of Rwandans, Pillars of Development.”

Heroes Tournament
EAUR, the winners of the 2025 Heroes Tournament, took home the trophy and a 500,000 Rwandan francs cheque.
Heroes tournament
EAUR celebrates winning the Heroes Tournament, their first-ever trophy.

Stubbs Jeffery Tyrone Drops 35 as Orion Shock Kepler

Stubbs Jeffery Tyrone
Stubbs Jeffery Tyrone scored a game-high 35 points in Orion's 87-81 victory over Kepler.
Orion’s Stubbs Jeffery Tyrone scored a game-high 35 points, leading Orion to an 87-81 victory over Kepler in their second Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) game.

 

The American guard made his mark in the RBL on Saturday, February 1, with a season-high 35 points, the most by any player so far this season.

Tyrone, 34, scored just 2 points in Orion’s season-opening 71-85 loss to APR. However, his standout performance against Kepler quickly made him a must-watch player in the 2025 RBL season.

Stubbs Jeffery Tyrone
Stubbs Jeffery Tyrone was clinical from the three-point line.

The Orion’s number 0 scored 35 points from 12-19 field goals, including 3-4 from three. He also drew 7 fouls, converting 8-12 free throws while playing 37 minutes.

Alongside Kepler’s Aristide Mugabe, Tyrone tallied a game-high 7 assists and grabbed 6 rebounds, helping Orion dominate the game without trailing in any quarter.

On the losing side, Chad Bowie Jordan, last season’s MVP, led Kepler with 30 points—his season high—thanks to a strong 5-10 shooting from behind the arc.

Stubbs Jeffery Tyrone
Chad Bowie Jordan scored a season-high 30 points.
Stubbs Jeffery Tyrone
The battle between American guards Tyrone and Jordan.

Tyrone and Orion will face REG in their next RBL game on Monday, February 3, at Petit Stade. REG remains undefeated in two games, while Orion holds a 1-1 record.

Adonis Filer Returns After 9-Month Injury Layoff.

Adonis Filer
APR Basketball Club point guard Adonis Filer made his long-awaited return to the court after a nine-month recovery from an Achilles tendon injury.

 

Filer, injured in a BAL 2024 game against Rivers Hoopers, made his return during APR’s 103-67 victory on Friday night at Lycée de Kigali Gymnasium.

The 31-year-old guard played 12 minutes, scoring 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-5 from three. He also added 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in his return to the Rwanda Basketball League.

Filer, who sustained the injury on May 11 in Dakar, had rejoined the team during preseason but was sidelined by head coach James Eduard Maye for APR’s opening game against Orion.

His duo with Antino is highly anticipated this season, including the BAL campaign.

Adonis Filer
Adonis Filer made his first appearance in the Rwanda Basketball League 2025.
Adonis Filer
Adonis Filer hit 2 of 5 three-pointers in the game against Azomco.

UGB Stuns the Patriots 73-69 in Rwanda Basketball League

Rwanda Basketball league
Mouhamed Doumbia drives to the basket for a layup.
The United Basketball Generation (UGB) bounced back from their opening-game loss to Kepler in the 2025 Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) with a statement victory over the powerhouse Patriots.

 

Steven Hagumintwari’s game-high 23 points were not enough to help the Patriots overcome UGB’s charge in Friday night’s game at Lycée de Kigali.

Yves Murenzi’s side rallied from a nine-point deficit in the first quarter (12-21) to dominate the remaining three quarters (21-18, 19-15, and 21-15), securing a much-needed victory that revitalized their campaign after the 67-71 loss to Kepler.

Central African Republic international Steven-Emile Perriere, the new team captain following Aganze Bazihima’s departure to REG, played a crucial role for coach Gael’s team on both ends of the floor.

Perriere and newcomer Mouhamed Doumbia contributed 39 points, making up 53.4% of the team’s total, while making significant contributions defensively as well.

Rwanda Basketball League
Steven-Emile Perriere has recorded double-doubles in both of the first two games of the 2025 Rwanda Basketball League.

Perriere recorded 17 points, 19 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in 39 minutes of play while Doumbia led the team with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 steals in 37 minutes.

For the Patriots, Steven Hagumintwari’s 23-point effort was the highlight of the game, which also marked a baptism of fire for new head coach Sunny Munyandamutsa.

Munyandamutsa, in his debut season as head coach, suffered his first loss after leading the Patriots to an 89-64 win over Azomco in their opener.

Both UGB and the Patriots now hold a 1-1 record and will face REG and Tigers, respectively, on February 7.

Rwanda Basketball League
Despite scoring a game-high 23 points, Hagumintwari left the court disappointed as his team suffered a loss.
Rwanda Basketball League
Kamndoh Frank from Chad and Steven Perriere from the Central African Republic faced off last night. two of the most formidable defensive players in the Rwanda Basketball League
rwanda Basketball League
Cadeau de Dieu Furaha returned to the court after missing the season opener due to a preseason knee injury.

Basketball Heroes Tournament Slated for January 29 to February 2.

Heroes Tournament
Keplerians will face Greater Virunga on the opening day of the Heroes Tournament. | Archive photo: Keplerians in an RBL D2 game against Elite.
The Rwanda Basketball Federation, FERWABA and the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders, and Decorations of Honour, CHENO, have scheduled the annual Heroes Tournament from January 29 to February 2, featuring men’s Division 2 teams.

 

The Heroes Tournament, which is traditionally contested by top-flight teams from both the men’s and women’s categories, will this year focus on giving Division 2 teams, composed largely of youth players, an opportunity to compete.

The 2025 Heroes Tournament will feature nine Division 2 teams, namely UR Kigali, CBT, Black Thunders, Keplerians, Greater Virunga, Kicukiro Buckets, Agahozo Shalom, EAUR, and Kigali Elite.

The Rwanda Basketball League Division 2 tipped off on January 24, and the teams have been given another opportunity to compete for a trophy to enhance the competition.

The decision was made since Division 2 teams typically participate in only two tournaments per season, as most other open tournaments are contested by top-flight teams.

The opening games of the Heroes Tournament will take place at Lycée de Kigali Gymnasium.

DAY 1 Fixtures | Wednesday, 29/01/2025
– 4 PM: AGAHOZO SHALOM vs EAUR
– 6 PM: UR KIGALI vs CBT
– 8 PM: KEPLERIANS vs GREATER VIRUNGA

The Heroes Tournament honors Rwanda’s national heroes through a multi-sport competition.

The National Heroes’ Day will be celebrated for the 31st time on February 1, 2025, under the theme: “Heroism and Unity of Rwandans, Pillars of Development.”

CHENO will use basketball as a platform to convey messages that honor the outstanding achievements of Rwanda’s heroes and the valuable lessons drawn from their contributions to the nation’s development.