Cameroon make light work of Egypt to qualify for AfroBasket Semi-Finals

Cameroon entered the quarterfinals against an unbeaten Egyptian side with questions lingering around their depth and health. Instead, they put those doubts to rest in emphatic fashion, taking command from the early stages and never loosening their grip. The contest began with a brief Egyptian lead, courtesy of Anas Mahmoud’s opening basket, but it was erased within moments. A blistering 11-0 burst, fueled by Samir Gbetkom’s scoring touch, immediately tilted the floor. From that point on, Egypt were forced to chase a game that had slipped beyond their control.

By the end of the first quarter, Cameroon had not only established an 11-point cushion but had done so without committing a single foul. The message was clear: discipline and intensity would guide them. Captain Fabien Ateba embodied that spirit, striking from long range with ruthless efficiency. His 26 points, highlighted by five three-pointers, set the tone and stretched the Egyptian defense to breaking point.

“I think what made the difference is our mindset,” said forward Brice Bidias after the game. “Coming out of the locker room, we talked about it. Even at the hotel, we stayed together, connected and we played for each other on the court.”

That togetherness became tangible in the return of Jeremiah Hill. After sitting out the previous match with a leg injury, the guard was visibly eager to make up for lost time. His 20 points, with four successful attempts from beyond the arc, restored the offensive balance Cameroon had missed in his absence. He opened the second half with a deep three-pointer that widened the gap to twenty, energizing the Cameroonian bench and deflating Egypt further.

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Bidias pointed to Hill’s presence as symbolic.

“Jeremiah never left, even when injured, he was around us, making jokes and keeping everyone laughing. On the court he’s a threat, off the court he lifts us too.”

While Cameroon’s stars shone, Egypt struggled to find answers. Mahmoud and Patrick Gardner did their best to keep the scoreboard moving, combining for 27 points, but little support followed. The backcourt, usually a strength, faltered badly.

Ehab Amin, the reliable guard who had been instrumental in Egypt’s perfect group stage, endured a nightmare outing. He went scoreless in the first half and finished with only seven points before fouling out in the final quarter. To compound matters, coach Mohamed Elkerdany’s ejection left the Egyptians adrift on both ends of the floor.

The contrast was stark. Cameroon thrived on fastbreaks, pushing the ball with urgency and finishing with 13 points in transition. They dominated the margins, securing 19 second-chance points and turning Egypt’s mistakes into 18 points off turnovers. Every statistical battle tilted their way, reflecting the dominance on display.

Ateba continued to lead by example deep into the contest, knocking down key shots that extinguished any faint Egyptian hopes of a rally. His partnership with Hill stretched the defense horizontally, while Yves Missi and Bidias punished mismatches inside.

Missi, who has been steadily growing in confidence throughout the tournament, underlined the team’s ambitions afterward.

“We’ve still got two more games to get to where we want to be. That’s all I’m going to say,” he remarked. “These guys are my brothers and I’m just so happy to be here.”

The bench unit also played its part, with Bidias chipping in 12 points that ensured the lead never dipped into dangerous territory. His energy and timing highlighted Cameroon’s depth, a trait that may prove decisive in the battles ahead against continental heavyweights.

Egypt, meanwhile, looked a shadow of the team that had breezed through the group phase unbeaten. Their body language sagged as the deficit widened, their offense stagnating against Cameroon’s disciplined rotations. The final buzzer offered little relief, the margin of 27 points underscoring the gulf between the sides on the day.

For Cameroon, this was more than just a semifinal ticket. It was a declaration of resilience after injuries threatened to derail their campaign. Hill’s comeback, Ateba’s leadership, and the collective discipline hinted at a squad rediscovering its rhythm at precisely the right moment.

Bidias summed it up with conviction: “We showed our connectivity in the first game, and we proved it wasn’t just by chance. We stick together, we stand by for each other, and we prove it on the court.”

The Indomitable Lions now turn their focus to the challenges ahead. Angola, Senegal, and Mali all loom large as potential hurdles, each capable of punishing complacency. But as Bidias noted, awareness of the road ahead sharpens rather than dampens their belief.

“With two more games left, we know we have to go harder, because the competition will be tougher. But we know what we are capable of.”

The echoes of their triumph over Egypt will travel with them into the semifinals. Sixteen years after their last appearance at this stage, Cameroon have not only returned but arrived with force. Whether they can carry this momentum into the championship rounds remains to be seen, but on this evidence, they look every bit like contenders.

[Photography/Imagery : Courtesy of FIBA]