DAKAR (Senegal)- Ahmed Metwaly nicknamed "Doola" says it very often, he has the feeling he is living a fairytale.

The Egyptian point guard, a prolific three-pointer who saw his Africa Qualifiers experience cut short after suffering an injury on Day 1 against Senegal, never imagined he'll end up playing for his country's national team and leading the charge for a FIBA Basketball World Cup ticket.

The 1.78m (5ft 9in) grew had a knack for sports from a very tender age but he grew up thinking about everything else apart from basketball.

"As a young boy in Alexandria, I played a lot of football and I was even in an academy called Al-Kassia Academy," Doola told FIBA.basketball in an exclusive interview.

"I started playing tennis also, but later on I started playing basketball and I just fell in love with the sport.

"So when I was 10 years old, the basketball coaches asked me to choose between football and basketball," Doola said smiling before adding "I went with basketball because I was already loving the sport."

Quizzed on how his football coaches received the news, Doola in a show of sincerity disclosed that "I wasn't very good in football and the coaches didn't bother."

It finally looked like the right path for the Alexandria native to follow especially as, despite his early love for football, he was addicted to basketball.

"Even though I loved football, I grew up watching the Al-Ittihad basketball team and they were dominating the league. The more I watched them play, the more I loved the game."

Having channeled his attention entirely to basketball, Doola sought to hone his craft and become one of the best players of his generation.

"After I made the decision, I trained hard and I was fortunate to play at the 2014 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup in the United Arab Emirates."

Ahmed Metwaly in action against Puerto Rico during the U17 Worlds

Doola had his side's second-best scoring ratio, averaging 10.3 points and 4.4 rebounds as Egypt got to the Round of 16.

With his talent quite evident, Doola returned a year later to Egypt's youth selections for the 2015 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Greece.

Egypt again crashed out in the Round of 16, losing by a whisker to Spain as the 25-year old posted 1.6 points and 1.4 rebounds.

"It was a wonderful experience for me playing in these two competitions and it helped me a lot in the next phase of my career."

The next phase for Doola was a glittering senior career with Al-Ittihad of Alexandria where he scooped an Egyptian League in 2020 and two Egyptian Cups in 2020 and 2021.

But the player remarks that a landmark in his career was winning the Arab Championship in 2019.

"The final of the Arab Championship was epic. I went off in that game and scored 24 points and I was MVP of that final."

“Playing at the World Cup will be the greatest thing ever in my career”- Ahmed Metwaly Doola

 "When we went back to Alexandria, everyone was very happy. The fans came to welcome us and I was very proud."

The cherry on the cake for Doola would've been Egypt qualifying for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2019 but their aspirations were dashed to the winds with a final day loss to Cameroon.

"I joined the senior national team during the African Qualifiers in Angola, we were just one win away from qualifying for the World Cup but we lost to Cameroon."

This heartbreak is still fresh in the minds of the Egyptians who yearn for a return to the pinnacle planetary competition. The current cast of players is determined to make this a reality.

"We have a dream to qualify for the World Cup. It's the best you can do because every player is dreaming of playing in the World Cup and the Olympics," Doola disclosed.

"We are now fighting because we need it. I think this group has the talent and we have everything that it takes to go play in the World Cup."

 
The lone thought of hitting the court donning Egypt's red and white is the biggest source of motivation that Doola needs to perform

"My biggest motivation is the love of the game. Representing your country is always something exceptional and something you have to be proud of.

"Not everyone is fortunate to be on the court to represent the country and whenever you're on the court, you have to play with your heart.

"It's an opportunity to seize at all times and that's why when you're on the court, you have to go 100 percent all the time."

Doola says he is fortune not just playing for Egypt but having one of his childhood idols coach him is something he relishes.

Egypt's assistant coach Wael Badr Elsyaed was the player Doola wanted to be like.

Wael Badr Elsyaed is seen in action during the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup against Iran

"In Egypt, we had some great point guards but Wael was one of my idols. I had his Egypt national team kit when I was younger and I even walked up to him to sign it up for me.

"He was one of the greatest point guards and my role models."

Wael Badr was part of the Egyptian team that played the 2014 World Cup in Spain and now Doola hopes he can emulate go on to emulate the famed guard.

"Playing at the World Cup will be the greatest thing ever in my career Just qualifying in the world cup and playing in such a tournament is the best thing you can do as an athlete. You play at the best level and that is just formidable," he concluded.

FIBA