Egypt seal Second Round ticket, Mali stay perfect in Group D

Egypt turned pressure into qualification in Luanda, beating Angola 79-73 to secure their place in the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers on a night when Mali also underlined their Group D authority with an 82-59 win over Uganda.

With 10 of the 12 Group D games now played, the picture is clear at the top. Mali, Angola and Egypt have booked their tickets to the next phase, while Uganda are out of contention. Mali lead the group with a perfect 5-0 record and 10 points. Angola sit second at 3-2 and 8 points, while Egypt’s crucial win lifted them to 2-3 and 7 points.

For Egypt, qualification did not come the easy way. They had to earn it against the reigning AfroBasket champions, in Angola, in a game where the hosts led for longer and repeatedly looked ready to take control. But Egypt showed the calm, discipline and late-game execution required to survive a demanding Group D battle and move on.

The win changed the meaning of Egypt’s final game. Their Sunday meeting with Uganda at 19:00 is no longer a desperate fight for survival, but an opportunity to strengthen their position before the next phase. The main objective has already been achieved.

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The decisive moment against Angola came early in the fourth quarter. Angola were leading 65-64 when Ibrahim Zahran punished a turnover with a fast-break dunk at 8:34, putting Egypt in front 66-65. It was the eighth and final lead change of the night. From that point, Egypt completed an 8-0 run that turned a 65-62 deficit into a 70-65 advantage, and Angola never fully recovered.

That stretch summed up Egypt’s qualification performance. They were not always dominant, but they were sharper when the game demanded clarity. Angola, who led for 23 minutes and 49 seconds, went cold at the wrong time, making just one of seven shots during Egypt’s decisive push. Egypt led for only 13 minutes and 37 seconds, but they owned the most important minutes.

Ehab Amin delivered the star performance Egypt needed. He finished with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists, attacking the rim with confidence and shooting 6-of-7 from two-point range. His fast-break dunk with 25 seconds left sealed the result, giving Egypt their biggest lead of the game at 79-73 and effectively confirming their qualification.

Adam Moussa also played a major role off the bench. His 9 points, 5 assists and 3 steals gave Egypt energy, control and composure, especially in crunch time. Zahran added 13 points and a team-best +13 plus-minus, while Omar Oraby contributed 13 points and important size inside. This was a collective response from a team that knew exactly what was at stake.

For Angola, the defeat will sting, even though their place in the Second Round is secure. The hosts built eight-point leads three times, including at 42-34 late in the second quarter and again in the third. Abou Gakou led Angola with 15 points and four three-pointers, but the reigning continental champions could not close the game on home court. They now face unbeaten Mali on Sunday at 22:00 in a final Group D test before the next round.

Mali, meanwhile, continued to look like the group’s most consistent team. Their 82-59 win over Uganda was controlled almost from the start and kept their perfect record intact. The reigning AfroBasket silver medalists led for 38 minutes and 44 seconds, turning an early 2-0 Uganda lead into a one-sided contest through defense, transition play and superior depth.

Aliou Fadiala Diarra set the tone with a dunk at 9:08 in the first quarter, tying the game and sparking a 14-4 Mali run. He finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists on 6-of-8 shooting, without committing a turnover or a foul. His four dunks reflected Mali’s physical control around the basket.

Siriman Kanoute provided the scoring punch from the backcourt, finishing with 20 points and 5 assists while shooting 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. His late second-quarter burst, which included two three-pointers and a three-point play, gave Mali breathing room before halftime. A 10-0 run early in the fourth quarter then pushed the lead to 70-43 and ended any remaining suspense.

Uganda had moments, including a 6-0 second-quarter run led by three-pointers from Robinson Opong and Titus Odeke, while Deng Geu battled to 13 points and 8 rebounds. But Uganda could not match Mali’s execution over 40 minutes.

Group D now moves into its final day with qualification settled but positioning still alive. Egypt have crossed the line. Mali are chasing a flawless first round. Angola need a reaction. And the Second Round already has three Group D teams with very different momentum.

[Photography and Imagery : Courtesy of FIBA]