When Uganda’s Silverbacks take to the court for the next window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers, much of the spotlight will be on one man making his first appearance on the international stage, Edrine Ekau.
The in-form Rezlife Saints guard has earned a maiden call-up to the national team after a breakthrough season in the National Basketball League, becoming one of three debutants named in head coach Mandy Juruni’s 12-man squad for the crucial qualifiers in Angola.
Ekau’s selection comes as little surprise to followers of Ugandan basketball. The talented guard has been among the league’s most consistent performers throughout the 2026 campaign, averaging an impressive 17.3 points per game and emerging as the driving force behind Rezlife Saints’ remarkable regular-season run. His performances helped the Saints secure a third-place finish and register statement victories over league heavyweights City Oilers and Namuwongo Blazers.
For a player who has steadily risen through the domestic ranks, the national team call-up represents both recognition for his outstanding form and an opportunity to prove himself at the highest level of African basketball. In a Silverbacks side searching for renewed momentum, Ekau’s scoring ability, confidence, and attacking flair could provide exactly the spark Uganda needs.
The Silverbacks enter the upcoming qualification window under pressure after suffering defeats to Mali, Angola, and Egypt during the opening phase of the qualifiers earlier this year. Those results left Uganda rooted to the bottom of Group D, making the next set of games vital to their hopes of remaining in contention for a place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 in Doha, Qatar.
Juruni’s decision to reward Ekau reflects a growing emphasis on form and performance within the national team setup. While experienced names remain at the core of the squad, the inclusion of the Rezlife Saints star signals a willingness to inject fresh energy into the team at a critical moment in the qualification campaign.
Ekau is joined by fellow debutants Marvin Musiime-Kamali of the Akron Zips and Blessed Phillip Mbogo, but it is the Saints guard whose performances have generated the most excitement heading into the qualifiers. His ability to create offense, score from multiple areas of the floor, and rise to the occasion in big games has made him one of the most talked-about players in Ugandan basketball this season.
The Silverbacks will travel to Kigali, Rwanda, on June 20 for a ten-day residential training camp before heading to Luanda, Angola, for the qualifiers scheduled from July 2 to July 5. The camp will provide Ekau with his first opportunity to integrate into the national team environment and build chemistry with his new teammates ahead of the challenging fixtures.
Uganda’s path to qualification remains difficult. Sixteen African nations are competing for five available spots at the World Cup, with results from the first round carrying forward into the next stage of the competition. Every victory is therefore crucial, and the Silverbacks can ill afford further setbacks.
As Uganda seeks to revive its qualification hopes, attention will inevitably turn to the league’s newest national team star. For Ekau, the upcoming qualifiers offer more than just a debut—they present a chance to translate a stellar domestic season onto the continental stage and potentially become a key figure in the future of Ugandan basketball.
The opportunity has arrived. Now, all eyes will be on Edrine Ekau.
Silverbacks squad:
- Nike Sibande Dejur Jr
- Fayed Baale
- Edrine Ekau
- Marvin Musiime-Kamali
- Robinson Odoch Opong
- Blessed Phillip Mbogo
- Peter Obleng
- Deng Geu
- Emmanuel Womala
- Jonathan Komagum
- Titus Lual Odeke
- Joel Paul Kayiira
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