Window 2 fixtures

Group B

June 29 Mali vs Rwanda

June 30 Rwanda vs Nigeria

July 1 Rwanda vs Uganda

The national basketball team head coach Maxime Marius Mwiseneza is upbeat that his side will progress to the second round of the 2019 FIBA World Cup – African Qualifiers despite an off-putting performance in the first window qualifiers earlier this year in Mali.

Window 2 of Group B qualifiers is scheduled for June 29-July 1 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Mwiseneza who also doubles as Espoir head coach, made the remarks on Wednesday after releasing the list of the penultimate squad of 20 players – down from 29 – that will continue a non-residential training camp before entering boot camp next week.

The final 12-player contingent will be revealed a couple of days before traveling to Lagos.

Rwanda are in Group B along with reigning African champions Nigeria, Uganda and Mali.

"We still have a big chance to qualify for the second round, a top three finish out of four teams is definitely possible. Despite being at the bottom, we have the same points as Uganda and Mali,” said Mwiseneza.

The first window of the qualifiers were held in February in Bamako, Mali and Rwanda, then under the tutelage of Moise Mutokambali, finished at the bottom of the table with four points, level on points as first-runners up Uganda and third-placed Mali.

Powerhouse Nigeria topped the table with a maximum six points after winning all their matches.

"To advance to the second round, we shall have to win two games and hope that either Uganda or Mali lose two games, which I believe is very much possible,” he added

In the second window due late this month, Rwanda will play Mali in the first game on June 29 and face giants Nigeria the following day before taking on Uganda on July 1.

The top three teams from each of the four groups will progress to the second round, where the 12 teams will be divided in two groups (E and F) of six teams each.

Full provisional squad

Point guards: Aristide Mugabe, Ali Kazingufu Kubwimana, Sedar Sagamba, Jean Jacques Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza

Guards and forwards: Parfait Ishimwe, Walter Nkurunziza, Dieudonne Ndizeye, Steven Hagumintwari, Bruno Nyamwasa

Power forwards: Bievenue Niyonsaba, Olivier Shyaka, Pascal Niyonkuru, Ali Ruzigande

Centers: Kami Kabange Milambwe, Eric Munyaneza, Elie Kaje

Foreign-based players: Kenneth Gasana, Dan Manzi, Adonis Rwabigwi and Kevin Ndahiro.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw