CAIRO (FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017) - Egyptian shooting prodigy Soraia Yahia Deghady is eyeing the top spot in African basketball for her country.

To achieve this, the rather efficient and high-scoring guard, along with her teammates, will have to dethrone the perennial powerhouses like Angola, Cameroon, Mozambique, Nigeria and Senegal at FIBA AfroBasket Women 2017 taking place in Mali from September 15-24. 

Aware of the challenge at stake, Deghady told FIBA.com: "It is very important for us to reach the Semi-Finals first this time round. We fought to get there in 2015 but unfortunately we failed. To do so, we have to be in a position to defeat Algeria, Guinea, Mozambique, Gabon, Mali, Cameroon, Angola and Senegal which are very strong teams in African basketball."

Deghady, who recently averaged 19.5 points per game with an efficiency of 14.8 and shot 11-of-14 shooting at the free-throw line at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket zone 5 Qualifiers in Cairo, understands that this is a tall order.

She believes it can be achieved if Egypt manage to bring on board their foreign-based players who ply their trade in the United States of America.

"We should get our players who are playing in the United States of America. We have to be well prepared for the FIBA Women's AfroBasket so we have to focus on our defense. I think good defense is what will differentiate us from the other teams," said the 21-year-old.

In 1966, at a time when it was known as the United Arab Republic, Egypt won the inaugural continental trophy and defended their title two years later. However, in more recent years, Senegal has dominated the FIBA Women's AfroBasket with a record 12 titles.

But Deghady has a valid dream that will call for an extra edge from her teammates if they are to make a mark and qualify for the FIBA Women's World Cup 2018 in Spain.

"It is my dream to go to the World Cup. If we win, that is all our dream on the national team because we have not participated in many years," she said.

To get there, Egypt have to reach the Final at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017.

FIBA