Both teams clashed in this battle of the titans. In search of a win after losing their previous games. However, Congo had the upper hand with stellar shooting from beyond the arc despite Egypt dominating the paint. Congo won 77-75 in a nail-biting finish with Mathieu Kamba not only scoring the clutch lay up but leading all scorers with 23 points.
Last Updated on
September 1, 2026
The game got off to a rather slow start with neither team putting a point on the board for the first minute and a half. However, once it was broken, there was no holding back. Omar Oraby opened the scoring for Egypt with a reverse lay up. It was not long after Damian Baugh leveled the score with a jump shot. With both teams in their groove, it was game on. Abdelrahman Mohamed showed off his range with a deep three-pointer. He was not done as he added two more free throws to get started. Omar Oraby then scored in the paint to give Egypt a narrow three-point lead.
It was then that Mathieu Kamba opened his scoring. He did this in style with a three-pointer. This was the beginning of what would be a historic shooting night for him. Egypt maintained the lead with a dominant paint presence. After another dry spell, the scene was set for spectacular three-point shooting that lit up both benches. First, Mathieu Kamba then Damian Baugh immediately after. This gave the Leopards their first lead of the game. Egypt then called a timeout to stop this Congolese run. However, the shooting show was not done. Amr Abdelhalim then scored a three-pointer in his first touch off the bench. Then Patrick Mwamba shot another three that found the bottom of the net. This gave the Leopards a 22-18 lead.
There was still little to separate these two sides who were determined to get a win before leaving Dakar. 7 foot eight inches center, Hamad Abouelrish, wreaked havoc in the paint with a lay up under and dominant paint presence that just changes shot. Mathieu Kamba continued with his impressive shooting that came in timely often to disrupt an Egyptian run. This time it was another three-pointer. Egypt then went on an 11-1 run to go up by five points. During this run Abouelrish changed every shot on defense and could not be denied on offense with a put-back and another lay up.
Congo then switched up their game plan and decided to go a little faster in transition. Flo Thamba took advantage of that when he drew a foul on Patrick Gardner where he split the pair on the line. Mathieu Kamba then took matters into his own hands and scored another three. This prompted another three by his teammate Damian Baugh and then a fast break lay up by Patrick Mwanba following his own steal. Congo were back in the lead but Omar Elsheikh had other plans with back-to-back lay ups to tie the game again. Flo Thamba scored a baseline jump shot from a Rolly Fula assist. In the next possession, he returned the favor to Rolly Fula who drained a perfect three and saw Congo back in the lead. The two sides traded baskets but it was Flo Thamba’s jump shot that gave need the half with Congo up 42-39. It was a sign of just how tight this game was going to be.
The third quarter started with a strong Egyptian defensive production, reinstating their lead. Congo scored their first points off a put-back courtesy of Munanga. After two more lead changes, Mathieu Kamba struck again with back-to-back three-pointers. It was followed up by Jonathan Kasibabu’s reverse lay up that took Congo up by nine. Egypt seeming disjointed then called a timeout where all five players were subbed. Then Omar Elsheikh ended this run with a free throw. Anas Mahmoud’s paint presence forced Congo to settle for threes but that was not a problem because Shekinah Munanga still had more in the clip. This was now the biggest lead of the game with Congo up 57-46.
Egypt then looked to their more experienced players to help get them out of this slump. First Amr Abdelhalim who drew the foul but only managed to split the pair. Then Damian Baugh, with few options, took a three. This was a good reward as it paid off and lit up the Congolese bench. Egypt then went on a 6-0 run, capitalizing on the Congolese complacency and neglect of the ball. They were able to bring the game back to single digits with the score at 60-53 at the half with all to play for in the fourth quarter. Momentum was now with Egypt and they were in a good position as Congo was within striking distance.
Egypt continued to chip away at this lead by dominating in the paint. Using the mismatches that their guards had. Amr Abdelhalim back up his defended and scored a floater to make it a five-point game. Congo’s shooting streak had not come to an end yet as Patrick Mwamba proved there was more in the Arsenal with another three-pointer. Congo’s history of carelessness with the ball in the clutch moments began to creep in. They made some costly turnovers that kept Egypt in the game back-to-back lay ups from Khalid Abdelgawad. That is when Congo turned back to Kasibabu and Kamba who went on a 6-0 run for Congo to restore their double-digit lead. Egypt called a timeout to re-strategize for this Leopards side who, despite having such a big lead, did not look confident in the driver’s seat. Flo Thamba then kept Congo in the game with another baseline shot.
It was then, with under four minutes to go, that Congo began to crumble. They squandered fast break opportunities, could not get into any set in the half court, had multiple turnovers, and Flo Thamba picked up his fifth foul on an unsportsmanlike challenge against Ehab Amin. Amin split the pair and made it a ten-point game. Then, Egypt began to exploit their paint presence and the game to within two points. Then Jonathan Kasibabu drew a foul and made both his free throws. It was then that Congo was really put under pressure as their passes were not so crisp anymore and Egypt could not step a foot wrong. Ehab Amin then drew another foul on Kasibabu who headed to the bench after picking up his fifth foul. Amin then tied the game with 22 seconds left. Congo held the ball for the last shot but Baugh was forced to shoot it early and after the miss, Kamba picked up the rebound and put back the lay up amidst all the Egyptian centers. As if that was not clutch enough Elijah Lufile blocked Amr Abdelhalim and handed Congo the narrow but important 77-75 win.
Mathematically, both teams are unlikely to qualify for the World Cup but they have a lot of time now to work on what’s missing as they will face tougher opposition in the next window. However, there are many good signs for both teams with a good mesh of youth and experience.
[Photography and Imagery Courtesy of FIBA]
