Egypt eye ticket for FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018
ALEXANDRIA (FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017) - Egypt will compete at the upcoming 12-team FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 looking to make history. At least that's the opinion of the team's co-captain Menatalla Awad.
In the space of four years, Egypt moved from an average African team trying to climb in the Nike FIBA Africa Women Rankings to become a self-proclaimed candidate for one of the two tickets for African teams for the FIBA Women's World Cup 2018 in Spain.
"Some of us have played in the U19 and U17 World Cup before. Now, it's time to try the FIBA Women's World Cup. We believe we can do that. - Awad
Four years ago, Egypt needed a wildcard invitation to compete at 12-team FIBA Women's AfroBasket in Mozambique where they finished in the Eighth-Place.
Two years later, the North Africans benefited from yet another wildcard for the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2015 in Cameroon where they stunned then reigning champions Angola in the Group Phase.
#Egypt down Angola in #AfroBasket Women 2015 - http://t.co/4Z9WzPMuJC
— KingFut.com (@King_Fut) September 29, 2015
By @welo97 pic.twitter.com/J5A7av6YPi
Now, Awad, who led Egypt in scoring during both African Championships, feels they can do a lot better in Bamako.
Awad receives Egypt's FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2015 Fair Play award
From August 18-27, the best 12 Africa national teams will be competing for two places in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 in Spain.
The official draw and complete guide for FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2017 https://t.co/GYCPomhDxU pic.twitter.com/4NPgUkTkHs
— Sports Ration (@SportsRation) May 30, 2017
And Egypt will start their Group B campaign going up against reigning champions Senegal, Nigeria, Mozambique, Guinea and a team that will qualify from FIBA Africa Zone 4.
Although Egypt hold a 0-4 deficit against Senegal, Nigeria and Mozambique dating back to 2013, the Sporting Alexandria ace remains optimistic about their chances in Bamako.
"We have nothing to lose against those teams," she explained to FIBA.com. "We have played them before and we have learned from past mistakes.
"Those teams are very strong physically and basketball wise, but they shouldn't rule us out because we'll do everything we can to beat them," she noted.
"Nobody gave us a chance to beat Angola in Cameroon, and we did it. So why not do it again against Senegal, Nigeria or Mozambique?
"Playing at [Women's] AfroBasket has given us a lot of experience in recent years, and we are looking forward to playing in Mali."
With a team that has dominated youth African basketball over the past eight years - alongside Mali - Egypt head to Bamako with a single goal in mind.
"Some of us have played in the U19 and U17 World Cup before. Now, it's time to try the FIBA Women's World Cup. We believe we can do that."
FIBA
