CAIRO (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - Egypt have joined the elite list of teams to have qualified for the Second Round of the African Qualifiers after defeating arch-rivals Morocco 59-53 on Sunday. 

The hosts  came into this game knowing that it was a make or break tie for them considering they had lost their opening two games against Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Amr Abouelkir's side led 17-11 after the first quarter thanks to the backing of a very energetic home crowd and indeed that sparked a good run into the half time break where they led 27-23. 

Mohamed Abdelhalim celebrating with the fans

Haytham Khalifa dropped a game-high 24 points, picked seven rebounds and made seven assists on a night where he was unstoppable in and outside the paint. 

Ibrahim El Gammal added 19 points and seven assists to guide Egypt past the Moroccans who booked their slot to the Second Round on Saturday after defeating DR Congo 61-58. 

The well deserved victory meant that Egypt moved to a 3-3 win ratio to salvage belief within their fans who were beginning to look worried. The win came at the right time at the end and they will celebrate it for quite some time. 

FIBA