On the opening day of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifiers, Rwanda, and Senegal showcased impressive performances, setting a high standard for the tournament. Both African teams, competing at the Kigali pre-qualifying tournament, emerged victorious in their respective matches on Monday.
In a thrilling encounter, Senegal narrowly defeated the top-seeded Hungary 63-61. The game was a nail-biter, with Senegal managing to secure a hard-fought win against a strong European side. Forward Ndioma Kane played a pivotal role for Senegal, contributing significantly on both offense and defense. Kane scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, playing a crucial part in Senegal’s first win against a European opponent since the 2018 World Cup. Senegal’s defense was a key factor, forcing Hungary into 21 turnovers throughout the game.
Cierra Dillard supported Kane with 14 points and six assists, while Madjiguene Sene added 8 points and 9 rebounds. Despite the efforts of Debora Dubei, who led all scorers with 24 points, and Bernadett Hatar and Reka Lelik, who each added 10 points, Hungary fell short in their attempt to secure a win.
In the other game of the day, Rwanda delivered a dominant performance, defeating Lebanon 80-62 at the BK Arena. Bella Murekatete was a standout performer for the host team, leading with 24 points and 7 rebounds. Former WNBA star Keisha Hampton also made a significant impact, scoring 21 points. The combination of Murekatete and Hampton greatly enhanced the Rwandan squad, which also featured strong contributions from Assouma Uwizeye, who was defensively impressive, as well as Ineza Sifa and Promise Philoxy, who scored 16 and 12 points respectively, with Philoxy also providing 12 assists.
Both Senegal and Rwanda’s victories on the opening day set a positive tone for their campaigns in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifiers. The performances demonstrated their potential and readiness as they continued their journey towards securing a spot in the prestigious tournament.
