Egypt arrives in Mali to participate in Women's AfroBasket

CAIRO – 16 August 2017: The women’s Egyptian basketball team arrives in Mali on Wednesday to participate in the 23rd edition of the Women’s AfroBasket Tournament. Egypt will participate in the tournament for the 11th time.

Egypt plays in Group B alongside the reigning champions, Senegal, Nigeria, Guinea, DR Congo and Mozambique. The Egyptian ladies open their participation in the competition against DR Congo on Friday.

Group A includes the Central African Republic, Tunisia, Angola, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and the host nation, Mali.

Egyptian coach Amr Ashour’s chosen squad for the competition consists of Meral Asraf Abdelgawad, Rana Abd Elfattah, Nour Aly, Mennatalla Awad, Reem Osama, Radwa Sherif, Mai Helwa, Manar Ihab, Hala Mostafa, Soraia Deghady, Asrar Maged and Rannem El-Gedawy.

Ashour also chose Meral Asraf Abdelgawad, Rana Abd Elfattah, Asrar Bakr and Radwa Sherif from the U-19 team for the U-19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Italy last month to support the first team squad.

Egypt won the gold medal in the first two editions in 1966 and 1968. Senegal won the most titles, having won the gold medal 11 times.

Mali hosts the competition from August 18-27.