EGY - Egypt qualifies for U17 WCFM

New Africa Champion Egypt wins finale against Mali to secure ticket to Hamburg - Two more team to qualify

HAMBURG (2010 FIBA U17 World Championship) - The Youth team of Egypt won the Africa Championship in Maputo, Mozambique and qualified for the FIBA U17 World Championship from July 2nd to July 11th, 2010 in Hamburg, Germany. In an exciting finale against Mali, the young pharaohs prevailed 84:82. Egypt is the tenth team that secured a ticket to the FIBA U17 World Championship next summer.

"Most African teams are very athletic but they tend to have problems concerning the techniques as well as the tactics. Egypt has represented the African continent very well in the past, for instance at the U19 World Championship this summer in New Zealand. Nobody should underestimate them", German Head Coach Frank Menz (picture) underlines.

Menz is already looking at possible preliminary group constellations: "I would prefer to play Egypt in the first round despite their athletics over strong European teams." This is what it is all about in international competitions; playing against teams with very different styles, Menz adds. "The variety is great for the teams as well as for the audience!"

In the preliminary round, which will be played from July 2nd to July 6th, 2010 in the Sportshall of Hamburg, the twelve teams compete in two groups, each consisting of six teams. The top four spots secure the qualification for the quarter-finals.

The last two participants for the FIBA U17 World Championship 2010 in Hamburg will be determined at the Asia Championship from November 19th - November 29th, 2010. So far, the United States of America, Argentina, Canada (all FIBA America), Spain, Lithuania, Serbia, Poland (all FIBA Europe), Australia (FIBA Oceania) as well as host Germany participate at the FIBA U17 WCFM in Hamburg.