The national basketball team departed for Cairo on Sunday to play friendly matches ahead against Uganda, Egypt and Jordan from June 22-24 at the Burj Al Arab Hall in Alexandria.

The build-up matches are part of Rwanda’s preparation for the upcoming qualifiers of the 2023 FIBA World cup which get underway from scheduled July 1-3 in Kigali.

After the games in Dakar, the team will return to Kigali on June 26, for final preparations.

After playing against Uganda in the build-up games, Rwanda will take on Egypt at the same venue on June 23, and then play against Jordan on June 24 before returning to Kigali on June 26 for final preparations.

Playing home has its advantages, but Rwanda haven't been able to capitalise from their home court as of late. A quick look at the 2021 Afrobasket tells the story of their struggles to remain consistent.

Three cites, Alexandria (Egypt), Cote d'Ivoire (Cote d'Ivoire) and Kigali (Rwanda) will be the centre stage of Window 3 of the African Qualifiers with teams selecting some of their brightest talents in their attempts to stay in contention for a place at next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup to be staged in Indonesia, Japan and Philippines.

A quick look back in time, and it shows how the 16 teams offered some spectacular games in Windows 1 and 2 played in Benguela, Angola and Dakar in Senegal.

Roster:

Ntore Habimana (Patriots), Olivier Turatsinze (IPRC Kigali), Jean de Dieu Umuhoza (UGB), Jean Jacques Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza (REG), Robeyns William (Belgium), Bruno Nyamwasa (Patriots) and Steven Hagumintwari (Patriots).

Others are Kenneth Gasana (USA), Dieudonné Ndizeye Ndayisaba (Patriots), Emile Galois Kazeneza (USA), Axel Olenga Mpoyo (REG), Cadeau de Dieu Furaha (USA), Patrick Ngabonziza (Orion), Noah Bigirumwami (USA) and Kendall Lamar Gray (USA).