Egypt wasted no time asserting their dominance in the Zone 5 Qualifiers, delivering a resounding 102-40 victory over Burundi at the Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall in Cairo. With their sights set on a seventh consecutive AfroBasket appearance this August in Côte d’Ivoire, the hosts sent a clear signal to the other teams stating their ambition to dominate.
Last Updated on
February 5, 2025
The Egyptians set the tone early, overwhelming Burundi with a blistering 33-8 first-quarter run. They maintained their relentless pace in the second quarter, outscoring their opponents 24-15 to take a commanding lead into halftime. The third quarter proved even more lopsided, as Egypt extended their advantage with a 30-8 stretch before closing out the game with a 15-9 final frame.
Every player on Egypt’s roster got on the scoresheet, with three finishing in double figures. Nadine Mohamed led all scorers with 22 points, while sharpshooter Raneem Elgedawy contributed 20 points and eight rebounds. Malak Gamaleldin added 11 points and a rebound to the tally, while Reem Moussa orchestrated the offense with a game-high nine assists.
Egypt’s offense was electric, capitalizing on fast breaks, accurate perimeter shooting, and well-executed ball movement. Their defense was just as relentless, forcing turnovers and limiting Burundi’s scoring opportunities with tight coverage and superior rebounding.
Burundi fought hard despite the daunting challenge. Ines Kanyamuneza and Divine Irakoze each registered 10 points, while veteran Ines Nezerwa led her team on the boards with nine rebounds. However, Egypt’s superior depth and efficiency proved too much to handle as Burundi struggled to contain Egypt’s outside shooting and fast-paced transitions, making it difficult to close the gap.
Reflecting on the victory, Egypt’s captain, Farida Abdelnabi, emphasized the importance of making a strong first impression.
“We wanted to make it clear from the start that we are here to compete for the title and won’t be easy to beat. That said, we’ll take it one game at a time. We’ll study our opponents, correct our mistakes, and stay focused on our goal of defending our championship,” she stated.
For Burundi, the matchup served as a valuable learning experience. Nezerwa acknowledged the challenge of facing a top-tier team but remained optimistic about her squad’s growth.
“We knew it would be tough, especially after such a long journey and going up against a powerhouse. We tried to adjust after a slow start, but their three-point shooting really hurt us. Still, this game will help us improve for the rest of the tournament,” she said.
With a dominant opening performance, Egypt has set the bar high for the rest of the qualifiers, while Burundi will look to regroup and apply the lessons learned as they move forward in the competition.
The hosts will aim to maintain their momentum in the coming games as they continue their journey toward securing a spot in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025.
[Photo/Imagery : FIBA]
