In a dazzling display of three-point shooting, Egypt’s national basketball team kicked off their FIBA AfroBasket Qualifiers campaign with a decisive 76-61 victory over the Central African Republic (CAF) in Cairo.
The Pharaohs, who are the highest-ranked team in Group D, which also includes 2021 AfroBasket silver medalists Cote d’Ivoire and Madagascar, showcased their superiority from the outset, leaving little room for the visitors to mount a significant challenge.
The game began with Egypt hitting five consecutive three-pointers in the opening quarter, setting the tone for what was to become a showcase of their shooting prowess.
With 21 of their 43 first-half points coming from beyond the arc, the hosts sent a clear message to their opponents. Despite a spirited effort from CAF in the second half, the deficit proved too large to overcome.
The turning point of the match was Egypt’s explosive start, led by coach Henrik Rödl’s strategic playcalling. The first quarter ended 29-15 in favor of the hosts, providing them with a comfortable cushion that CAF, despite the best efforts of Evans Ganapamo, could not penetrate.
Ganapamo, the standout player for CAF, managed to score a game-high 27 points, but his solo efforts were insufficient against the cohesive and well-orchestrated play of the Egyptians.
A critical aspect of Egypt’s win was their ability to capitalize on CAF’s mistakes, converting 24 turnovers by the visitors into 26 points. In contrast, CAF could only muster 8 points from Egypt’s 17 turnovers, highlighting the disparities in execution between the two sides.
Anas Mahmoud emerged as the game hero for Egypt, contributing a team-high 19 points, along with three assists, seven rebounds, four of the team’s six blocks, and two steals. His all-around performance was instrumental in securing the victory for the Pharaohs.
Looking ahead, Egypt is poised to leverage their home court advantage as they aim to go undefeated in a challenging group.
The showdown with Cote d’Ivoire, the reigning silver medalists, on the final day of the window, is eagerly anticipated.
Both coaches reflected on the game’s outcomes, with CAF’s Lautie Sylvain acknowledging the need for improvement in ball handling, and Egypt’s Henrik Rödl expressing satisfaction with the team’s performance while highlighting areas for refinement.
