Defending champions, Egypt began their FIBA U18 AfroBasket title defense with a hard-fought 70-57 win over Nigeria in a Group B clash at the University of Pretoria’s Rembrandt Hall.
Egypt’s Mohammed Hussin was the standout performer, leading all scorers with 21 points, while Omar Mowafak added 15 to help secure the victory. For Nigeria, Azeez Sulaimon led the team with 14 points.
Despite arriving just the day before the game, Nigeria showed no signs of fatigue, taking control early and ending the first quarter ahead 17-14. Favour Ibe and David Ike contributed with powerful dunks, and Nigeria’s fastbreak strategy proved effective, outscoring Egypt 7-0 on fastbreak points in the opening quarter.
Egypt relied heavily on their three-point shooting, with 21 of their points coming from beyond the arc. By halftime, Egypt had edged ahead 37-32, with Hussin leading the charge.
In the third quarter, Nigeria briefly regained the lead with a 6-0 run, but Hussin’s timely three-pointer swung the momentum back to Egypt. The game remained close, with both teams battling hard, but Egypt held a slim 52-48 advantage going into the final quarter.
Late in the fourth quarter, Egypt pulled away, thanks to key plays from Hussin and a fastbreak dunk by Omar Aly, which sealed a 10-point lead for the North Africans. Egypt ultimately proved too strong, securing a 13-point victory.
“I had a good game, and it was a great win for the team. This sets us up well for the rest of the tournament,” said Mohammed Hussin.
