Team Profile: Egypt’s Pharaohs ruled the court once—now, the game has changed. With East Africa’s teams rising fast, can they still dominate, or is a new era here? The battle for AfroBasket supremacy is on. Will Egypt rise or fall?
Last Updated on
February 3, 2025
Once the dominant force in the region, Egypt’s senior women’s team now faces an unforgiving reality. As they prepare to compete in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Zone 5 Pre-Qualifiers from 3 to 8 February at the Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall, the question is no longer whether Egypt will dominate but whether they can keep up with the rapidly improving teams in their own backyard.
Grouped with Burundi, Uganda, South Sudan, and Kenya, The Pharaohs have a steep climb ahead. The last few years have seen a power shift in East African women’s basketball. Kenya stunned Egypt in the 2021 Qualifiers’ Final, Uganda has emerged as a genuine force thanks to government-backed grassroots investment, and Burundi is no longer an afterthought. Despite being relatively new to the women’s game, South Sudan brings a mix of youth and international experience. The competition is fiercer than ever, and Egypt can no longer rely on history to carry them through.
Raneem Elgedawy remains the undisputed leader of this team. The 28-year-old centre is a battle-tested veteran who was named MVP of the 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers, averaging 19.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. She spearheaded Al Ahly Sporting Club’s deep run in the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) last December, proving once again that she is among the best bigs on the continent. But how much can one player do? The Pharaohs need more than individual brilliance—they need a system that translates domestic dominance into continental success.
Egypt’s confirmed roster includes a mix of experience and rising talent: Aya Elfiky, Reem Moussa, Meral Abdelgawad, Nouralla Abdelalim, Nadine Mohamed, Asrar Bakr, Ingy Badawy, Farida Abdelnabi, Hala Elshaarawy, Yara Hussein, and Malak Gamaleldin. But does this squad have enough firepower to reclaim regional superiority? The challenge lies in their ability to contain the opposition’s key players. Kenya’s Victoria Reynolds, Uganda’s Jamila Nansikombi, Burundi’s Ines Nezerwa, and South Sudan’s Adut Bulgak pose serious threats. These players bring international pedigree and hunger, which the Pharaohs must be prepared for.
Egypt boasts one of the strongest development systems in Africa, but development means little if it does not translate into winning at the senior level. The Pharaohs have qualified for the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 14 times and were once a regular podium finisher, but those glory days are long gone. If Egypt fails to impose itself in this tournament, serious questions must be asked. Are they still an elite team in the region, or is it time for a complete reset? The answer will unfold over the next six days.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
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