Abdelgawad, an Egyptian star in the making

SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - Egypt may have finished last at FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2017 last week in Udine, Italy, but they have won a future star. 

Although Egypt have lost all their seven games, Meral Abdelgawad, a strong-minded 18-year-old guard finished as the tournament second-leading scorer with 17.4 points per game - one point short of MVP Maria Vadeeva. 

Obviously, individual success becomes irrelevant when a team loses, but Abdelgawad's performances couldn't be ignored. She was a delight to watch. 

Facing eventual champions Russia in Group B, Abdelgawad introduced herself to the basketball world powering the Pharaohs with a game-high 24 points. 

But, was Abdelgawad's display a surprise? No, not really. 

A year ago, Abdelgawad led Egypt to a Second-Place finish at FIBA Africa U18 Women's Championship held in Cairo. In the process, the then 17-year-old was named the tournament MVP.

Abdelgawad is seen here during a 2016 FIBA Africa U18 Women's Championship

While I consider Egypt, one of Africa women's basketball powerhouse in the making, I wondered if Abdelgawad would have her chance at the upcoming FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017. 

Amr Ashour, the head coach of Egypt senior women's team told me: "I am planning on selecting some of the U19 players for the African Championship in Mali, and if Meral continues to play at that level, she can make the final roster, we’ll see. My idea is to build a team that mixes older players and this new generation." 

Coach Ashour went on saying: "She could become one of the best players in our country. Meral [Abdelgawad] is more than an offensive player. She is a born leader, who can play at both ends of the floor. And, more importantly, she is a fearless competitor."

Meral Abdelgawad

"Good teams and colleges from around the world have seen how great she could become. But she was not the only Egypt player doing well at the U19 championship. Asrar Bakr was also fantastic and might be an option for the senior team."

With the likes of Soraia Deghady, Sara Masoud and Menatalla Awad already making waves across the continent, the addition of Abdelgawad into the senior team would make Egypt a team to watch in Mali from August 18-27.

After all, Abelgawad has never hidden her intentions of playing on the big stage. Talking to FIBA.basketball a year ago she said: "As you may know, it's not easy for players from the Arabic region to emerge internationally. But I will keep fighting. My second target is to make it to the senior national team in the coming years and fly the Egyptian flag internationally."

But until the 12-team African Championship tips off, Abdelgawad will be under Ashour's watchful during an Arab Championship in Cairo from August 5-11, where they will take on Jordan, Iraq, Tunisia and Lebanon.

The Mali showdown will qualify two Africa teams for the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Spain.  

Julio Chitunda
FIBA

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