CAIRO (FIBA U17 World Championship for Women) - Facing Brazil, Spain and Italy in Group B at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women is a challenge that Egypt can't wait for.

The North African country opened its preparations early this week, and head coach Wael El Diasty counts now with 14 players, including a trio that dominated and claimed gold medals at the 3X3 African Youth Games held last month in Gaborone, Botswana.

Charismatic point guard Nada Gasser, forwards Raneem Mohammed and Nouralla Aly were crucial in Egypt's success in Gaborone, and are now expected to lead Egypt at the U17 World Championship in the Czech Republic cities of Klatovy and Pilsen (28 June-6 July).

For coach El Diasty, a physical education teacher who guided Egypt to a second-place finish at the 2013 FIBA Africa U16 Championship for Women - following a heartbreaking 62-61 loss to Mali - "anything is possible" especially, as he says, "I have a group of talented and hard working players, eager to compete against the best in the world."

Nevertheless, El Diasty explained to FIBA.com that, more important than winning games in Czech Republic, is the world stage experience and building on the future of Egypt's women's basketball.

"It will be a great learning process for most of these young girls, considering the experience they gain by playing top teams from around the world.

"But more importantly for us is to give these girls the opportunity of gaining scholarships in the USA, so they pursue their academic and basketball skills."

The 43-year-old coach who led Egypt at the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women in Chile, uses the example of his former players Dina Ragab, Hala Elshaarawy and Reem Moussa who are doing well in the US college ranks.

Before Egypt open their U17 World Championship for Women campaign, El Diasty and his team are set to play five warm-up games in Turkey.

FIBA