Egypt Secure First Quarter-Final Spot with Hard-Fought Win Over Uganda

LUANDA (Angola) – Egypt became the first team to book an automatic place in the quarter-finals of the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 after edging past a determined Uganda side, 77-64, in a tightly contested Group D encounter at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda on Saturday.

Led by Amr El Gendy’s 17 points, along with strong contributions from Patrick Gardner (15 points), Mido Taha, and Omar Oraby (10 points each), the Pharaohs completed the group phase with an impressive 3-0 record to top their group and advance directly to the last eight.

Uganda, who came into the game with everything to play for, were spearheaded by Deng John Geu’s 19 points, Robinson Opong’s 14, and Naseef Lubowa’s 13, but ultimately fell short against Egypt’s deeper bench and clutch execution.

Tense First Half Battle

With Senegal’s win over Mali earlier in the day tightening the group, Egypt entered the game knowing that only a win would guarantee a place in the quarter-finals.

The opening quarter was closely contested. Uganda held an 18-13 lead with under a minute remaining, but Egypt clawed back with a pair of Gardner free throws and a slick El Gendy drive to close the gap to just one point (18-17) at the buzzer.

The second quarter mirrored the first in intensity, with both teams trading blows. A Deng hook shot and two free throws tied the game at 31-31, before quick exchanges from Ibrahim Zahran and Naseef Lubowa leveled the scores again at 33-33. A last-second free throw by Mido Taha gave Egypt a narrow 34-33 lead at halftime.

The third quarter saw an explosion of pace and scoring. Uganda’s Opong opened with a three-pointer, but Egypt answered immediately, with Khaled using smart footwork to level the game again. The sides traded baskets until the 5:30 mark, when Zahran’s consecutive fast-break scores swung momentum in Egypt’s favor, giving them a 42-41 lead and forcing Uganda into a timeout.

The break did little to stop Egypt’s growing dominance. The Pharaohs went on an 8-0 run, extending their lead to 55-43. Key plays included free throws from Abdelgawad, a fastbreak dunk by Gardner, and two clutch trips to the line by El Gendy.

Player of the Game: Amr El Gendy

The experienced El Gendy was instrumental in guiding Egypt through a tough encounter. He finished with 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, and added leadership and poise at key moments.

Stats That Tell the Story

• 53 bench points for Egypt showcased their depth.
• 23 points off turnovers highlighted their defensive pressure.
• 14 second-chance points demonstrated their hustle on the boards.

Uganda Impress Despite the Loss

The Silverbacks may not have advanced automatically, but they left a strong impression. Their resilience, intensity, and stretches of excellent execution kept the game in the balance for much of the first half. They’ll now look to regroup and hope for a chance in the qualification round.

“We feel good. We locked in for the three games. We now have to get ready for the quarter-finals. I am very proud of my coaches and teammates,”
— Patrick Gardner, Egypt forward

It wasn’t easy, and at times it wasn’t pretty—but Egypt got the job done. Against a spirited Uganda side, the Pharaohs leaned on experience, bench depth, and key individual performances to punch their ticket to the quarter-finals of AfroBasket 2025.