Uganda defeated Rwanda 188:116 in the Africa Cup ILT20 on Wednesday, extending their advantage over their East African neighbours by a considerable margin. The hosts finished in third place on eight points from eight matches, while the visitors sat top of the table on fourteen points after seven victories and a single defeat.
And here's the thing about these two sides — they had already met six days earlier in Kampala, where Uganda won 198:134. Rwanda dropped their fifth consecutive game, having not tasted victory since their opening matches. Uganda, meanwhile, maintained their position at the summit of the competition.
The visitors arrived in decent form, having won four of their last five outings. Their only loss in that span came against Kenya in a 193:189 thriller. Rwanda's recent record tells a different story entirely: two defeats in their last three games, including that heavy first meeting with Uganda. To be fair, they did manage a 91:87 win over Sierra Leone on Tuesday before this one.
By then, the gap between the sides was clear enough. Uganda, playing with confidence after their earlier victory, never allowed Rwanda to settle into any rhythm. The 72-point difference made it one of the most lopsided results in the tournament so far. Rwanda were left flat-footed from the opening tip-off and never found a way back into contention.
Uganda's position at the top of the standings looks increasingly secure with this result. They now hold a six-point cushion over their nearest challengers, and that margin will only grow if they maintain their current trajectory. Rwanda, meanwhile, face a difficult run if they want to climb out of third place before the tournament concludes.