Egypt: FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025 Team Profile

Egypt: FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025 Team Profile

Since their major comeback to the continental stage in 2013, Egypt’s women’s national basketball team has steadily climbed the ranks of African basketball. With six consecutive AfroBasket Women appearances, the Egyptians have not only rebuilt a competitive identity but also carved out a reputation as one of the continent’s most unpredictable and dangerous teams.

Yet their participation in the 2025 edition — scheduled from July 26 to August 3 in Abidjan — did not come without setbacks. Egypt had to take the long road to qualification, securing an official FIBA Africa wild card after a bitter home defeat to Uganda in the Zone 5 qualifying final. A surprising outcome, especially considering they had beaten the Gazelles earlier in the group stage. The loss ended years of regional dominance and left Egypt in the unfamiliar position of chasing redemption.

Despite the stumble, FIBA Africa acknowledged the team’s long-term progress by granting them an invitation, recognizing the strength of their project. Now, head coach Julian Martinez and his players are determined to turn that opportunity into a statement and show that they belong among Africa’s elite.

Egypt’s evolution over the past ten years is one of the most compelling stories in African women’s basketball. In 2014, the team sat in 14th place in the FIBA Africa rankings. By 2022, they had climbed to fourth. Entering this year’s tournament ranked fifth, they remain firmly in the top tier. It’s been a slow but steady rise — the result of a decade of development, grit, and growing depth.

Their AfroBasket track record reflects that journey. Though often inconsistent, Egypt has reached the quarterfinals in all but one of its recent appearances with the exception being Kigali 2023, where they exited the group stage with just one win in three games. Their best finish came in Yaoundé in 2021, when they placed sixth highlighting their potential to disrupt the established order.

Across six tournaments, Egypt has posted 15 wins and 24 losses, a record that underscores both the progress made and the challenges still ahead. Where they once crumbled against African powerhouses like Nigeria, Mali, or Senegal, they now compete with grit and resilience. In fact, they’ve managed to beat Angola, two-time African champion twice in recent years, proving their threat is real.

A major factor in Egypt’s resurgence has been the core group of players who’ve raised the team’s standards year after year. Soraya Degheidy, a consistent presence since 2015, may miss this edition, but her impact remains undeniable. Alongside her, Nadine Mohamed, Raneem Elgedawy, Menatalla Awad, Reem Moussa, and Hagar Amer have been instrumental in pulling Egypt out of obscurity and building a credible team with real ambition.

But the next wave is already here. A younger generation, largely trained in U.S. college programs, is entering the spotlight. Meral Abdelgawad, Jana El Alfy, and Jana Sallman are part of this new core. Their presence could take Egypt from contender to legitimate title threat in the coming years.

This transition is not just about talent; it’s also strategic. Earlier this year, under coach Amr Elmaraghy, Egypt recorded an impressive 4–1 run during the qualifiers. Despite that, a change was made. Spanish coach Julian Martinez, with experience coaching Mozambique in AfroBasket 2019 and multiple club stints across Africa — has taken over. His appointment marks a new chapter focused on structure, professionalism, and ambition.

In this year’s Group A, Egypt will face two familiar opponents: Angola and Côte d’Ivoire. These are matchups where Egypt knows it can compete and, on the right day, win. Though they enter the tournament through a wild card, they bring the hunger of a team with something to prove and the weapons to make it happen.

Egypt may not yet have the silverware, but it has all the makings of a dangerous team on the rise. A team that disrupts and that nobody should overlook anymore.

[Photography/Imagery : FIBA Africa]