Egypt Falls Short in Heartbreaking 72-71 Loss to Germany in FIBA U17 World Cup Thriller

Egypt Falls Short in Heartbreaking 72-71 Loss to Germany in FIBA U17 World Cup Thriller

"Why did the young Pharaohs start so well and then collapse over the course of their games? And why did they concede so many turnovers in their previous games?"

These were the pressing questions posed to Amr Abouelkhir, the head coach of Egypt's U17 basketball team, following their narrow 72-71 defeat to Germany in the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup.

Coach Abouelkhir addressed these concerns candidly:

"It's true that during our matches, we experienced ups and downs due to our lack of experience. The matches here are vastly different from what we play domestically, even though we improve with each game.

We prepared with only two friendlies, which I think is insufficient. Regarding the turnovers, we must acknowledge that the size of our opponents poses a significant challenge, and our smaller players struggle with passing under such pressure."

The young Pharaohs had already endured a tough defeat on the eve of their match against Germany. Despite this, they started the first quarter confidently, trailing by just two points, 13-15. Their initial deficit was primarily due to eight points conceded from turnovers and fast breaks.

In the second quarter, Egypt improved their offensive strategy, outscoring Germany 15-10 and securing a three-point lead, 29-25, by halftime.

The third quarter was balanced, with both teams exchanging points frequently. The Egyptians managed to minimise their turnovers, conceding only 16 points and excelled in points in the paint. They extended their lead to ten points, reaching 47-37 with two minutes remaining in the third quarter, which ended at 47-40.

Germany staged a comeback in the final quarter, narrowing the gap to two points, 52-50, and later to one end, 54-53. With less than a minute left, the teams were tied at 61-61, forcing the game into overtime.

Overtime proved challenging for the Egyptians. The Germans quickly scored two three-pointers and two free throws, pushing the score to 66-70. Egypt fought back, coming within one point at 69-70 and briefly taking the lead with two successful free throws. However, Germany ultimately secured the victory with a final score of 72-71.

This loss marks a tough learning experience for the young Pharaohs, who must reflect on their performance and prepare for future challenges in international basketball.

[Photography / Imagery Courtesy of FIBA]