Experienced Egyptian team ready to carry hosts' hopes
CAIRO (FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017) - Egypt will have an experienced squad for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 with eight players from last year's FIBA U18 Africa Championship 2016 back in th
CAIRO (FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017) - Egypt will have an experienced squad for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 with nine players from last year's FIBA U18 Africa Championship 2016 back in the mix to lead the hosts' hopes.
Egyptian head coach Juan Orenga will have nine of the top 10 scorers from the team that reached the FIBA U18 Africa Championship final - led by second-leading scorer and top rebounder Ahmed Khalaf, who will be playing at his second FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup. Also back from the U18 team to play for the home team in Cairo are the top three assist givers Mohamed Youssef, Omar Farag and Mohamed Ramadan.
| Egypt's roster for FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 | |||
| Abdelrahman Abdelmaged | Abdelrahman Elgindy | Aly Elraei | Seifeldin Elsanadily |
| Mohamed Elsayed | Omar Elsheikh | Omar Farag | Ahmed Khalaf |
| Esam Mostafa | Mohamed Ramadan | Mohamed Youssef | Omar Youssef |
The main player missing from Orenga's team is Tarek Raafat, who broke his arm in a motorbike accident and is unavailable for the tournament. The guard was Egypt's leading scorer at FIBA U18 Africa Championship 2016 and was named to the All-Star Five.
Khalaf, Ramadan, Youssef and big man Esam Mostafa all had double duty for Egypt last summer, also playing at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2016. Also appearing at Zaragoza 2016 and on Orenga's roster are Omar Elalfy and Abdelrahman Abdelmaged while Mohamed Elsayed is back in the national team after last playing at the FIBA U16 Africa Championship 2015.
Just one Egyptian player will be making their international debut, with that being Omar Elsheikh.
Egypt will go up against Germany, Lithuania and Puerto Rico.
FIBA