Zamalek, Ittihad players headline Egypt squad for FIBA AfroBasket 2021 preps

CAIRO (Egypt) - A total of 10 players that featured in the just concluded Egypt Super League (ESL) playoffs final series  have been included in the 18-man Egypt preliminary squad for the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 preparations. 

Teenage sensation Mohab Yasser, who was named as the ESL Best Young Player and previously featured for the Egypt U18 side last December, has been given a shot at the senior national team. 

Head coach Ahmed Marei will be hoping that ESL MVP Anas Mahmoud who was also named as the Best Defensive Player at the inaugural Basketball Africa League will replicate his form in the last six weeks at the continental showpiece that will be held in Rwanda from August 24 to September 5. 

 
Forward Moustafa Elmekawi "Kejo", who was very pivotal to Zamalek's quest for the BAL and ESL title told FIBA.basketball that, "It means a lot to me to be named on the Egypt national team. I work so hard every day and it is paying off when I am called to the national team. It means a lot to wear the jersey with the Egypt flag in it. It means that I have to do my best to represent my country in the best way possible."

Egypt were drawn in Group B alongside defending champions Tunisia, Central African Republic and Guinea and according to Kejo, now is the time for Egypt to conquer Africa. 

Kejo playing for Zamalek at the Kigali Arena in Rwanda

"I believe that we shall do well this year. After winning the BAL there, I do not think that Rwanda will let us down. As soon as I walk on that court again, I think I will remember every moment from the BAL and it is going to give me a big push to win the AfroBasket with my national team," Kejo said with excitement. 

"We want to win the AfroBasket for sure. We have so many talented players on the team and we work so hard and we deserve to win. We have the chemistry and I believe we have all that it takes to win the title."

Ahmed Hatem and Omar Hesham are the other Zamalek players who have been included in Marei's squad to fight for the available 12 slots for the Rwanda trip. 

Meanwhile, national team captain Haytham Kamal who was named as the ESL Top Scorer for the 2021 season alongside Ahmed Khalaf "Bibo", Ahmed Adel "Dola", Youssef Shousha and Mohamed Taha "Mido" are the players from Al Ittihad Alexandria who will be looking to put their disappointment of losing the final towards helping Egypt win their first African title since 1983. 

Marei has his work cut out to select a roster that can bring back the glory days and help Egypt penetrate the podium. The Pharaohs finished eighth at the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 in Rades, Tunisia. 

FIBA