FIBA Afrobasket qualifying matches have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic ©Getty Images

Qualifying matches for the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) AfroBasket postponed after Uganda and Equatorial Guinea were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

All three of Uganda's matches in Group E, set to be played in Monastir last week, were postponed. 

Five members of Uganda's delegation tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in the Tunisian city, despite providing negative test results before their departure. 

FIBA decided to postpone the matches as Uganda's participation in the tournament would compromise the bio-secure bubble, created to protect the health and safety of participants in the qualifiers. 

Uganda was set to play Egypt, Morocco and Cape Verde, with the status of these three matches to be decided at a later stage. 

This year's AfroBasket is scheduled to take place in Rwanda ©Getty Images
This year's AfroBasket is scheduled to take place in Rwanda ©Getty Images

The Group C clash between Equatorial Guinea and hosts Cameroon was also delayed to protect the health and safety of players, coaches and officials. 

The decision was made after Equatorial Guinea arrived in Cameroon's capital Yaounde too late to receive the mandatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test before the match. 

The status of this game is also to be decided at a later stage. 

This year's Afrobasket is scheduled to take place in Kigali in Rwanda from August 24 to September 5. 

It had been moved back by a week to accommodate the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which are set to run from July 23 to August 8. 

Sixteen teams are set to contest the tournament in total.