MIES (Switzerland) - It is now time to meet the six teams in this FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 Greece with the dream of becoming Olympic champions this summer.
Here is the number 40 team in the FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike, the seven-time Olympic participants Egypt. The Africans have not appeared in the Olympics since 1988 and not won a game at the Olympics since 1952. The Pharaohs will also be making their OQT debut.
How they qualified
Egypt were playing at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 after missing FIBA's flagship event in 2019 following their appearance in 2014, which ended a drought of 20 years.
The Africans were drawn into Group D and struggled out of the gates with a 93-67 loss against Lithuania. Egypt also lost to the other European side in the group, falling 89-74 to Montenegro. They finished the First Round with a positive in rolling past Mexico 100-72 - the country's first World Cup victory since 1994 as Egypt went winless in 2014.
Moving onto the 17-32 Classification Round, Egypt grabbed an 85-69 victory over Jordan to put themselves one win from booking a direct spot in the Paris Olympics as the African team with the best finish in the World Cup. Needing to beat New Zealand, Egypt watched the Tall Blacks make two free throws with 17 seconds to go and lost a heart-breaker 88-86 after coming back from 14 points down.
Egypt finished the FIBA World Cup in 20th place to qualify for the OQTs as one of the best 16 remaining teams that did not advance directly to the Summer Olympics.
Record at the Olympics
Appearances: 7 - 1936 (15th), 1948 (19th), 1952 (9th), 1972 (16th), 1976 (12th), 1984 (12th), 1988 (12th) Medals: 0
Recent OQT history*
* Since 2008
Egypt used to be a power on the African basketball landscape but they have only reached the FIBA AfroBasket podium once since 2003 - finishing runners-up in 2013. They narrowly missed out on the OQTs in 2008, finishing fourth at the FIBA AfroBasket 2007. Therefore, Egypt will be making their debut in the OQTs.
Last Olympics appearance
Egypt's last appearance at the Olympics came in 1988, when they were hoping to end a 36-year drought of no wins in the Games - finishing winless in 1972, 1976 and 1984.
The Pharaohs were drawn into Group B and the campaign started off unfortunately as they lost 98-84 to China, the team against whom Egypt probably had the best chances to win. Egypt then lost by 33 points to Spain, followed by 53-point drubbings by Canada and Brazil. Egypt's final group game went even worse as United States beat them by 67 points, 102-35.
In the 9-12 Classification action, Egypt lost 63-57 to Central African Republic and ended up 0-7 and in 12th place after a 97-75 loss to China.
The OQT Group Phase
Egypt took a big step at the 2023 FIBA World Cup - just getting two victories on the global stage - having lost 58 of their 59 games at the Olympics or World Cup since 1959. Things will not be easy in Piraeus as the Africans will be playing in a very tough OQT. They start their Group B campaign against Dominican Republic. After a day's break, Egypt will then face off with hosts Greece.
The two top teams from both groups advance to the Semi-Finals with Group A consisting of Croatia, New Zealand and Slovenia. The winners of the Semi-Finals will face off and whoever wins the Final will play at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Egypt OQT games
vs Dominican Republic (July 2) vs Greece (July 4)
Players to watch
Egypt's chances will rely on the play of Ehab Amin as the point guard not only sets up his teammates but he is also able to score in many ways and plays tough defense. Opposing teams will be focusing on 28-year-old, and if he can persevere then Egypt have a chance.
Egypt have two rock solid centers to make things easier for Amin with Assem Marei and Anas Mahmoud offensively while Marei is an outstanding rebounder and Mahmoud represents a serious rim protector on defense. There is also Patrick Gardner, who showed what he can do at the FIBA World Cup with 20 points against Mexico while then averaging 14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds at the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers.
Amr Gendy will be needed to knock his open shots when they come and he also showed at the AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers that he can playmake with 6.3 assists per game. Yusuf Shehata meanwhile knocked down 11-of-19 three-pointers in three games at the continental Qualifiers after playing all 12 games in the FIBA World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers but not making the squad for Asia.
Coach Rodl also may decide to bring some of the country's next generation to the OQT, including 21 year-old forward Ahmed Rehan and 2005-born duo of point guard Karim Elgizawy and power forward Seifeldin Hendawy - all three having played in the first AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers window. Elgizawy also starred for Egypt at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023.
Qualified Team Focus series
We've checked out all teams ready to step out as part of our Qualified Team Focus series. You can take a look at Croatia, Egypt, Dominican Republic, Greece, and New Zealand, and Slovenia.
FIBA