Rwanda U-16 boys’ basketball national team head coach Albert Buhake is confident that his side will qualify for the FIBA Afro basketball U-16 tournament which is slated for July in Mali.

Buhake whose side lost two friendly games against PJB from Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on the weekend 80-63 and 78-49, will play yet another friendly match against local side Hoops this evening at Petit stade.

"We need to play more games because we want to see the young players improving. We want to qualify for Afrobasket and our players are ready to give their best. I am confident that my team can achieve this. Without sounding overconfident, I believe we will win and qualify because we have prepared well. We have very good young players, who know what it takes to be successful so I have confidence in them,” added Buhake.Buhake noted that during friendlies, his team played against players who were above the age of

16, and the games helped him to correct some mistakes and yet the results weren’t bad because the boys put in their best efforts.

Rwanda U-16 boys will face Ethiopia twice on May 30-31 at Petit Stade and the winner will qualify for the Mali event. The Rwandan girls have already qualified for the FIBA Afrobasket U-16 girls’ tournament set for July 16-24 in Madagascar.

Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA) confirmed that Burundi, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda will not participate in the tournament because they do not have players in the U-16 category.

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