Khairy trusts Egypt's ability to reach FIBA World Cup

CAIRO – 25July 2018: Al-Ahly basketball team manager, Tarek Khairy, believes that Egypt's basketball national team includes a group of players that can lead the team to the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.

“This generation can reach the World Cup. We are playing in a tough group at the qualifiers’ second round but the national team still has a big chance to pass,” Khairy told Kooora.com on Monday.

Egypt, led by Amr Abol Khir, achieved three victories from six games at the World Cup qualifiers’ first round to secure the third position in Group C behind Angola and Morocco and reach the qualifiers’ second round.

The top three teams from Group C, Egypt, Angola and Morocco, will play alongside the top three teams from Group A, Tunisia, Cameroon and Chad in the first group of the second round.

On the other hand, Nigeria, Senegal, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Ivory Coast and Mali will play at Group B.

The top two teams from each group will win direct qualification to the World Cup, while the third placed teams will play against each other at a play-off game to decide a fifth African side to reach the World Cup.

The second round games are set to start on September 14.

Egypt participated six times at the World Cup and their best result was in the 1950 World Cup when they finished fifth.