Team in focus: Egypt

CAIRO (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup is just around the corner. In the lead-up to the biggest international basketball event, we take an individual look at all 24 teams.

Country: Egypt
FIBA bwin Ranking Men: No. 46
Last participation in the FIBA Basketball World Cup: 1994 (1 win, 7 defeats; 14th place)
Best result in the history of the FIBA Basketball World Cup: 5th place (1950)
Result in qualifying tournament for 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup: 2nd place at AfroBasket 2013 (3 wins 4 defeats)

Egypt were one of the surprise packages of international basketball last year.

The national team travelled to the AfroBasket in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, looking to return to the podium for the first time since 2003 when they finished third on home soil in Alexandria.

A rough start with three defeats in as many Preliminary Round games didn't bode well for their chances but instead of an early exit from the competition, Egypt joined the other 15 teams taking part in advancing to the next round.

The Egyptians not only moved on but figured out how to win games.

They shocked defending champions Tunisia in their first knockout contest and then edged Cape Verde to advance to the Semi-Finals.
 
When Amr Aboul-Kheir's team stunned Senegal, 70-63, in the last four, they sealed a place in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Few would have predicted such a run before the tournament or after the group stage but the Egyptians never lost faith and the results of their games in the group stage show why.

They had only fallen 72-70 to the Senegalese, 67-63 to Algeria and 69-62 to tournament hosts Cote d'Ivoire.

One player vital to the cause was Wael Khedr, the team's veteran point guard.

The 1.92m Khedr poured in a team-high 19 points against Tunisia to set the tone for an Egyptian turnaround. Then in the victory over Senegal that sealed a spot in the World Cup in Spain, he contributed 16 points.

He wasn't able to play in the Final against Angola and his absence was telling as the Egyptians missed the leader in the backcourt and slumped to a 17-point defeat.

With Assem Marei, the starting center on last year's team, hobbled by a knee injury this summer in the build-up to the World Cup that put his participation in doubt, other players have recognized the need to step up.

The coach will be looking for increased production from Ibrahim El-Gammal, the team's shooting guard.

The 26-year-old is a big talent and averaged 9.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game but shot just 28.3 percent inside the arc and 15.9 percent beyond it.

Veteran shooting guard Sheriff Abdalla, who is 35, should offer steady production and a threat from the perimeter.

There is plenty of promise in Egyptian basketball, something that has been evident this summer with some of the players in the youth national teams.

The Egyptians will be wanting to set a good example for the stars of tomorrow by putting on a good display at the World Cup in Granada against some of the best teams in international basketball - Group A opponents Spain, France, Serbia, Brazil and Iran.

FIBA