The Rwandan women’s national basketball team will face Argentina in their second Group D match of the ongoing 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup pre-qualifiers on Wednesday, August 21. The game, scheduled for 8 PM at BK Arena in Kigali, pits Rwanda, ranked 74th globally, against Argentina, who hold the 31st position.
Rwanda, drawn in Group D with Argentina, Great Britain, and Lebanon, opened their pre-qualifier campaign with an 80-62 victory over Lebanon on Monday, August 19. Despite Argentina’s recent struggles, including a 1-4 record at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2023 and the absence of key player Andrea Boquete, the match against Rwanda is expected to be highly competitive.
Argentina is striving for their first World Cup appearance since 2018 when they exited in the Group Phase in Tenerife, Spain. One key player to watch for Argentina is Melisa Gretter, a seasoned 31-year-old point guard. On Rwanda’s side, Coach Cheikh Sarr will rely on experienced players like Keisha Hampton, a former WNBA player, and Bella Murekatete, who shone with 24 points and seven rebounds against Lebanon.
Kigali is hosting the Group C and D pre-qualifiers, which also include teams like Hungary, Senegal, Brazil, and the Philippines. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the group winners earning a spot in the main qualifying tournament in March 2026.
Wednesday, August 21
- Lebanon vs Great Britain: 5 PM
- Rwanda vs Argentina: 8 PM
