CAIRO (Egypt) - It's been 48 years since Egypt stood on the podium at the Women's AfroBasket, and as they look ahead to the 2025 competition in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, the focus is on ending that wait.
The semi-finals of the continent's premier women's national team competition have remained a mirage for the Pharaohs since 1977, when they lost what would have been their first title as Egypt (the United Arab Republic won the last two) to hosts Senegal. Their best finish since then has been sixth in 1984 and 2021.
Despite the North Africans losing out on the Zone Five title to Uganda's Gazelles and having to rely on a wild card to reach the continental showpiece, veterans Reem Moussa and Raneem Elgedawy believe they have what it takes to challenge for a place in the last four and eventually the podium.
"Our target this year is to win more games than last year and win a medal for the first time in close to five decades," Raneem puts it simply.
"I think the tournament will be very competitive and of course we have to come very well prepared mentally and physically. We will have our overseas players so I’m sure they will make a difference and help us achieve something good in Abidjan."
Compatriot Reem, on her part has laid bare the expectations for her team ahead of the 29th edition of the African competition, agreeing with her teammate at Al Ahly Sporting on their preparations and squad composition,
"Our team preparation needs to be more intense and deliberate this time around," she started. "AfroBasket brings in a completely different level of competition compared to the qualifiers, especially with the return of professional players and NCAA athletes during the summer."
The point guard adds that the focus will be on building strong chemistry early on, tightening defensive systems, and being cohesive in their offensive execution.
"We need to use every training camp to simulate the pace and physicality we'll face because the margin for error is much smaller at this stage. We've got promising young talents returning from the USA and integrating them seamlessly into the squad will be key for our overall success," she continued.
Egypt hosted the Zone Five Qualifiers in Cairo, with Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jane Asinde carrying Uganda to the title, beating the Pharaohs on their own turf.
The East African side picked a convincing 74-63 win over the 2023 Zone champions. Nicholas Natuhereza's Gazelles had lost 74-65 to the Egyptians in the final of the 2023 edition.
"From the qualifiers, it was clear that we need to improve our consistency and sharpen our execution under pressure. We had strong moments, but at this level, we need to sustain that throughout all four quarters. Integrating the returning players quickly and getting everyone on the same page will be key," Reem explained.
She is, however, well aware that ending the 48-year wait will be no walk in the park, calling on her teammates to become mentality monsters ahead of their participation.
"Breaking that barrier starts with having one united mindset. We have to be a team that's committed to one goal, and everything we do on and off the court has to reflect that. That means trusting each other, holding each other accountable, and making sacrifices for the group. Whether it's diving for loose balls, making the extra pass, or staying engaged on the bench; it all matters. If we stay focused, play selflessly, and fight as one unit, we have what it takes to make history," she concludes.
FIBA