2025 Women's AfroBasket: Egypt out to end 48-year wait for a medal

Egypt are preparing for the 2025 Women's AfroBasket, which runs from 26 July to 3 August in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, with a clear aim: to end a 48-year wait for a continental podium finish. Qualified through a FIBA Africa wild card, the Pharaohs, currently ranked 5th in the FIBA Africa rankings, have shown steady progress in recent years and hope to play the spoilers.

Driven by a mix of experienced players and young talents developed in the United States, the Egyptian side are determined to spring a surprise and reach the semi-finals, which would mean a place in the qualifying tournaments for the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup. Since returning to the Women's AfroBasket in 2013, after more than a decade away, Egypt have established themselves as a formidable and unpredictable team.

The dream of a podium finish

As proof, between 2014 and 2022 the Pharaohs climbed from 14th to 4th in the FIBA Africa rankings. Their best result remains 6th place at the 2021 Women's AfroBasket in Yaoundé, and they have missed the quarter-finals only once in six appearances, at the 2023 edition in Kigali. With an overall record of 15 wins and 24 defeats over the last six editions, Egypt have narrowed the gap on the continent's heavyweights such as Nigeria, Senegal and Mali, and have even beaten Angola, two-time African champions, twice since 2015. That gives them reasons for hope.

Read also: 2025 Women's AfroBasket: Mali in the Group of Death, Côte d'Ivoire with Angola

“Our goal this year is to win more games than last year and to win a medal for the first time in nearly five decades,” forward Raneem Elgedawy told FIBA in an interview. “I think the tournament will be very competitive and, of course, we will need to be very well prepared mentally and physically. We will have our foreign-based players and I'm sure they will make the difference and help us put in a good performance in Abidjan.”

Players to watch

• Raneem Elgedawy (28, forward): A charismatic leader, Elgedawy is the driving force of the Egypt team. With experience of several AfroBaskets and a stated ambition to win a medal, she will be at the heart of Egypt's project. Her versatility and leadership will be crucial.
• Soraya Degheidy: In the side since 2015, Degheidy is a key figure, although her participation in the 2025 edition remains uncertain. Her experience and reading of the game have often steadied the team in critical moments.
• Jana El Alfy, Meral Abdelgawad and Jana Sallman: These young players, trained in the American college system, bring fresh energy. Their drive and modern grounding could catch opposing defences off guard.

Under Julian Martinez, the new Spanish coach who led Mozambique in 2019 and has held various roles in Africa, Egypt approach the tournament with ambition. In a strong Group A, alongside Angola and Côte d'Ivoire, the team will need to be consistent to reach the quarter-finals, a minimum objective.

Malick BAMBA