Egypt v Mali: a story of intense rivalry at FIBA U16 African Championship

ABIDJAN (Cote d’Ivoire) – Since its inception, the FIBA U16 African Championship has been the breeding ground for some unparalleled rivalry between Mali and Egypt.

The two teams have clashed in four finals of the last six editions of the tournament. 

Though Egypt have won four titles against Mali's one, the Malians are on their way to level up the game.

The tournament has come a long way since 2009, when Egypt beat Mali in the final game (84-82) to clinch their first-ever FIBA U16 African Championship in Maputo, Mozambique, thus starting their reign on the continent.

Six years later Egypt and Mali faced off again, this time in the Malian capital Bamako. The Egyptians rose to their third victory in five editions, and this time, the pill was even sourer for Mali, as they fell short of one point (64-63).

Victory was finally on Mali’s side in 2017, thanks to an awesome performance by Siriman Kanoute, who was watching from the stands two years earlier.

In 2015, Egypt went on to win the third of their four  FIBA U16 African Championship titles in Bamako

"I remember that day," Kanoute recalled to FIBA.basketball during the 2017 edition of the tournament.

"I was only too young to play," he said.

Four years ago, in front of a Mauritian crowd all acquired to their cause, Mali made an impressive display, clinching the title with a 76-65 victory.

 
But it seems that the rivalry has reached new heights when, in 2019, Egypt claimed yet another victory – their third – over Mali in the final, this time in Praia, Cape Verde, which gave Egypt a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over the West African nation.

This state of affairs between Egypt and Mali U16 teams is all about basketball and who has the best training and development program.

At some point in time, Mali’s women’s squad won every possible trophy. Egypt found a way to respond by dominating the smaller categories in the men's side.

"It is more a question of who had the best team and program and who would put it best at work," says Mamoutou Kane, the coach who led Mali to their first ever boys' continental title in 2017.

He recalls pressure ahead of the 2017 Final game above all. "We were in the finals, and we wanted more than anything to represent our country to the best of our capacity. I guess this is what goes on in every player and every coach in this kind of game."

Both countries rely on impressive training and development programs to reach the top.

However, Ehab Amin, who was crowned the 2011 FIBA U16 African Championship in 2011, noted that:  "There is no rivalry as such. I'd call it respect. Both countries are really good at developing players. So, seeing these two countries meet in the Finals or in the Semi-Finals is only logical."

Mali's Siriman Kanoute is the only non-Egyptian MVP at the FIBA U16 African Championship

Something else can explain the situation between the two countries. Egypt has achieved a feat that Mali has yet to equal.

In 2011, the Egyptians won in front of their home crowd, this time against Tunisia.

And then, in 2015, Egypt went on to win the title in Bamako, while Mali claimed their only title far from home.

Amin says that being at home helps more than one can imagine. "Playing in front of your home crowd makes you even more focused. It gives you a bit of extra confidence. So maybe this can add to the explanation."

The rivalry can also be recounted through individual titles.

In six editions, Egypt has brought home five MVP titles, with Ahmed Mostafa (2009), Ehab Amin (2011), Mohamed Abdelrahman (2013), Ahmed Khalaf (2015) and Moamen Abouzeid (2019), while Kanoute broke the Egyptian supremacy in 2017.

Ehab Amin was named MVP of the 2011 FIBA U16 African Championship

Amin, who now sports the Al Alhy suit, attributes the individual titles to teamwork. "Winning the MVP was made possible with the help of my teammates and former coaches Rafik Youssef and Fadi Hani. So there's something much more important behind these."

Coach Kane adds that both countries look up to the details. "It is all in the details. In 2017, we prepared the players mentally before the tournament and kept them upbeat during our stay in Mauritius."

The next FIBA U16 African Championship, which will take place from August 6-15 in Bamako, could be yet another showdown by any one of those two countries. Except, maybe, if another contender slips in between and adds a twist to the tournament.

FIBA