FIBA Africa, on Wednesday, October 12, moved the Group C qualifiers of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) from Kampala, Uganda to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, due to safety reasons related to the Ebola outbreak reported in Uganda.
The games get underway on October 25-30. Uganda was due to host the games at the MTN Arena, in Lugogo, Kampala. But the continental basketball governing body decided to take them to Tanzania.
"As per FIBA Internal medical regulations in consideration of the health and safety of the participants, FIBA Africa decides to relocate the competition to another country. Hereby, we regret to inform you that the organisation of Road to BAL 2023 Group C is withdrawn from your federation," reads a letter that FIBA addressed to Uganda's basketball federation on October 10.
Group C features Uganda's City Oilers, Burundi’s Urunani BBC, Hawassa City BBC (Ethiopia), Army Basket Club (Tanzania) and Matero Magic (Zambia).
The Ugandan Ministry of Health announced the outbreak of the deadly virus on September 20 after a case of the Sudan strain was confirmed in Mubende district in the central part of the country.
Meanwhile, games in Group B, in Cameroon, Rwandan international player Kenny Gasana was in action as his team Bangui Sporting Club, a Central African Republic outfit won its game 69-60 against Nueva Era, on Thursday, October 13.