LUANDA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) ‐ Omar Oraby's double-double magic inspired Egypt to a shock 73‐64 win over a very strong Tunisian side in overtime on Saturday at the Arena Multiusos do Kilamba in a highly thrilling North African derby. 

Seven-footer Oraby dropped a game-high 16 points, picked crucial 10 rebounds and made two blocks in the paint - an area that Egypt dominated on both offense and defense. 

"WE WON THIS GAME BEFORE IT STARTED. OUR SPIRIT WAS RIGHT IN CAMP AND WE WANTED TO COME UP VICTORIOUS. THE PLAYERS FOUGHT HARD EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND WE ARE HAPPY BECAUSE NOW WE ARE COMING CLOSER TO THE WORLD CUP IN CHINA NEXT YEAR ." 
Aboulkheir

 The third quarter brought out the best in both teams but it was Egypt that looked the part visually but two turnovers in the last 30 seconds forced the game to overtime.

The heart to qualify for the World Cup got them back into rhythm and they dominated the first overtime that they eventually won to hand Tunisia their first loss in this qualifying campaign. 

Speaking to FIBA.basketball in a press conference after the game, the legendary Tunisia head coach Mario Palma said: "Egypt deserved to win this game. They displayed more team spirit to win and they were a much better team. They denied us space in the paint because of their size and so we were forced to shoot from the outside and the percentage was not good enough."

Tunisia made just 25 of their 79 field goal attempts and converted only eight times from their 30 attempts behind the arc - a statistic that left Palma in utter shock! 

Tunisia led the first quarter 23-22 but the scoreline was tied at 37-all at the halftime break thanks to the intensity of both sides that showed the true meaning of a rivalry etched in ancient history and onto modern day basketball success at all levels. 

Palma lamented that "This is the first time I have lost a game in the two years since I joined Tunisia. We have already qualified. Egypt have a lot of powerful desire to the World Cup. They fought for their lives today. I have never seen Egypt play like this."

Omar Oraby finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds

"The difference was also in the rebounds. They had 52 and we had 41. There is no way we can win this game. I am shocked that we went to overtime. If we need to win, we do not come like this. We did our best to win but it did not happen.

"We are not an invisible team. Sometimes losing is good. We have won so many times and that is about 30-40 games in a row. Now, the players are upset because they do not want to lose but on offense, they did not remember the plays perhaps because they only joined us for a few days but there is no excuse, Egypt were better than us today."

Egypt head coach Amr Abouelkhir explained that "We won this game before it started. Our spirit was right in camp and we wanted to come up victorious. The players fought hard every step of the way and we are happy because now we are coming closer to the World Cup in China next year."

"This is a message to Africa. Egypt is coming. We have young players that have a lot of experience and in the next 10 years, we shall be a force to reckon with."

Egypt are eyeing yet another World Cup appearance after they featured at the 2014 edition in Spain where along with Angola and Senegal, they were the African representatives. 

 FIBA