Egypt seek #AfroBasketWomen return in style

CAIRO (Egypt) - For Egypt, qualifying to the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2019 is the minimum requirement on their to-do-list for the year. Nothing less is expected from the reigning FIBA Africa Zone 5 champions. 

Egypt head coach Ehab Alalfy knows this and has wired his players to also understand the same as they head to the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2019 Africa Zone 5 Qualifiers in Kampala, Uganda from June 26 to July 1 as outright favourites to defend their title and book a slot to the continental showpiece. 

"MY EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH FOR THIS TEAM. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD AND THE GOAL IS ALWAYS TO WIN AND QUALIFY FOR THIS YEAR'S WOMEN'S AFROBASKET."- Alalfy

Egypt is looking to qualify for their fourth straight edition to continue an already intriguing consecutive run - their best ever since making their debut in 1974 when they finished in third place before settling for second position in 1977. 

They finished in eighth place in 2013 and 2015 improving a place higher in 2017 and Alalfy wants to improve this if they make it to Senegal where the continental bonanza will be held from August 9-18 in Dakar. 

However, they have a matter at hand and that is to stop the rising youthful Ugandan side that will be playing in front of their home fans as well as a hungry and desperate Kenya and returnees Rwanda who last played these qualifiers in 2013.

"WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP SIX TEAMS IN THE WOMEN'S AFROBASKET TO STAY IN ROUTE TO QUALIFY FOR THE TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS."- Alalfy

 Alalfy told FIBA.basketball in an exclusive interview that, "We have a younger team than the past few years so we are focused on playing with faster pace and higher efficiency since we have some experienced players (about eight players) who have participated in the last Women's AfroBasket."

Dependable shooting guard Soraya Deghady, Reem Osama, Nour Ali, Manar Ehab, Hala Mostafa and Menna Awad are expected to bring so much experience to this young and expressive Egyptian side as they seek to stamp their names among Africa's elite women basketball sides. 

Soraya Deghady led Egypt with 15 points and four assists per game at 2017 FIBA Women's AfroBasket

However, Egypt, according to Alalfy, has to deal with some pressure because of injuries to key players that could have helped their cause in the qualifiers. 

For the North Africans, this is not an excuse but instead an inspiration to finish the job when they head to the east on June 25. They must stay true to their objective.

"It is very important because we have a bigger goal not only do we want to qualify for Senegal but we also want to make it to the top six teams in the Women's AfroBasket to stay in route to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics," Alalfy insisted.

"My expectations are high for this team. We have been working hard and the goal is always to win and qualify for this year's Women's AfroBasket." 

Egypt will be looking to join the reigning African champions Nigeria, Senegal, Mali and Mozambique who have automatic qualification to this year's edition alongside Zone 2 winners Cape Verde, Zone 4 champions Cameroon and  Angola who emerged champions in Zone 6. 

FIBA