Angola registered an 83-72 win over hosts Egypt and registered consecutive wins in Group D of the Window 2 of FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers as Egypt failed another home test.
Last Updated on
March 1, 2026
The flags waved furiously in the stands at Borg Elarab Arena on Saturday evening. However, by the final buzzer, most of them had gone still as Egypt's dream of a perfect run on home soil turned into a sour taste after Angola walked away with a victory, leaving the hosts searching for answers after two consecutive losses. In a tense, physical battle at the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers, African champions Angola defeated a resilient Egyptian side 83-72, pushing the Angolan campaign forward while plunging the hosts deeper into a slump.
Veteran guard and captain Childe Dundao led all scorers with 29 points for Angola, weaving through Egypt's defence with loads of experience on display as he continued his strong presence for the Palancas Negras with four rebounds and four assists on the night. Selton Miguel and Bruno Fernando also contributed to the win with a combined 28 points.
For Egypt, Amr Abdelhalim carried the scoring load for the second game running with 18 points, six rebounds, and one assist, finishing as his team's highest performer, but it wasn't enough. The Pharaohs struggled with their shots from the field before halftime and couldn't find enough clean looks when it mattered most in the final quarter.
The game was a tale of contrasting quarters, with Angola seizing control early, weathering multiple Egyptian storms, and ultimately pulling away in a dominant fourth-quarter display.
In the opening quarter of the tie in Alexandria, Angola drew the first blood and left the hosts with a mountain to climb. The noise inside the arena was supposed to be Egypt's sixth man tonight, but instead, after ten minutes of basketball, it was replaced by something far more unsettling - silence.
The first quarter ended 25-16 in favour of the visitors, fueled by an efficient offensive performance, and for the Egyptian players walking toward their bench, you can see it on their shoulders: that wasn't just a nine-point deficit they're carrying; it was the weight of an opener gone wrong.
Egypt needed this one badly after dropping their opening game, as the math was already getting uncomfortable in the campaign. The pressure was on them to leverage home-court advantage and get their qualifying campaign back on track. On the other side, the Palancas Negras of Angola arrived in Alexandria with a swagger, buoyed by a comprehensive victory over Uganda in their first outing and riding a seven-game winning streak across all competitions.
And it was that confidence that shone through from the opening tip as Angola extended their defence full-court from the jump, played like a team that's been here before as they pushed every rebound, every loose ball, every made basket with their guards attacking the paint without hesitation, It was just simple basketball that was brutally effective when executed with this kind of discipline.
An interesting stat about the game: since 1990, these two sides have met eight times in various locations across Africa. Whether at home, in Egypt, or in a neutral location, the 12-time African champions have prevailed over Egypt. Hence, the hosts knew they would need to find a way to settle down, value possession, and match Angola's physicality if they were to claw their way back into this game.
Whatever was said during that first-quarter timeout worked for the hosts, as they came out for the second period looking like a different team. Egypt, desperate to ignite the home crowd, showed more fight in the second quarter, actually outscoring Angola 22-21 to cut the deficit to 46-38 at halftime.
After the break, they maintained their second-quarter momentum. They closed up on the African champions by holding Angola to just 16 points while managing 20 of their own, narrowing the Angolan lead to just four points with the scoreline leaving the players and locals believing that they will likely be bagging a first win against this opponent in 36 years, with Abdelhalim's two-point jump shot rounding off the third quarter at 58-62.
However, the fourth quarter belonged to the seasoned Angolan squad.
They recalibrated their offence and tightened the screws defensively, exploding for 21 points while limiting Egypt to a meagre 14, slamming the door on any hopes of a home comeback. The Southern Africans were methodically picking apart Egypt's defence and grabbing every loose ball that mattered. The Angolan bench erupted on multiple occasions, while the home crowd sat on their hands, watching their team's World Cup hopes take another hit.
The disparity in transition was key in the final stats: every time Egypt missed from deep or turned it over, Angola was running, as 23 fast break points were scored off Egyptian turnovers, compared to the 20 fast break points made by Egypt. The home side actually owned the paint and fought for extra possessions on the offensive glass, registering 40 points compared to Angola's 30. The bench really played a major role for both teams, with Egypt's bench contributing 35 and Angola's bench contributing 34.
The victory is a massive boost for Angola, who have now registered their second win in the campaign, building on their dominant opening performance against Uganda. They are presenting as a team with deep qualifying experience. Still, for Egypt, the loss is a bitter pill to swallow, as they have now lost two games on home soil following a shocking opening-day defeat to Mali, with the road to the World Cup in Qatar already looking steep for the Pharaohs.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
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