Ivory Coast vs Egypt

Ivory Coast controlled the tempo from the opening tip, taking a 17-13 lead after the first quarter. But Egypt, buoyed by their upset win over tournament hosts Senegal just two days earlier, refused to let the game get away. The Egyptians matched the Ivorians 19-17 in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 34-32 at halftime.

The game turned decisively in the third quarter. Ivory Coast exploded for 25 points — their highest-scoring period of the match — while holding Egypt to 19, stretching the lead to 59-51. A 16-0 scoring run during this stretch proved to be the knockout punch.

Egypt mustered a late response, winning the fourth quarter 15-13, but the deficit was too large to overcome. The Elephants held on for the six-point victory.

Quarter scores: 17-13, 17-19, 25-19, 13-15 (CIV first).

Ivory Coast's 16-0 unanswered run in the third quarter swung the game decisively. Egypt had clawed back to within two at halftime, but the Ivorians' defensive intensity ratcheted up after the break. They forced four turnovers during that run and converted in transition, turning a tight contest into a double-digit lead that Egypt could never fully erase.

Jean-Philippe Dally (CIV) — The forward was the game's most impactful player, posting a team-high 22 efficiency rating. Dally, who also scored seven points in Ivory Coast's win over Mali on August 27, anchored both ends of the floor during the decisive third-quarter surge. Player of the match.

Abdelrahman Mohamed (EGY) — Led Egypt with a 13 efficiency rating in a losing cause. The big man battled inside against a physical Ivory Coast frontcourt.

Ivory Coast's free-throw shooting — The Elephants shot 89.5% from the line, a crucial edge in a tight contest, especially compared to Egypt's 39.1% — a staggering 50-point gap that proved fatal.

The box score tells an unusual story. Egypt shot better from the field (39% to 34%) and from two-point range (48.7% to 37.8%), yet lost by six. The margin came from three areas: Ivory Coast hit 30% from three-point range to Egypt's 25%; the Elephants' devastating free-throw advantage (89.5% vs 39.1%); and the 17-point biggest lead CIV built against Egypt's 7-point max advantage. Simply put, Ivory Coast made the big plays when it mattered, while Egypt left points at the stripe — 14 missed free throws.

Ivory Coast also dominated time leading (26:09 to 10:13), reflecting control of the game despite the narrow final margin.

Ivory Coast (6-1, 13 points in Group F) stay joint-top of the group alongside Senegal and Mali, strengthening their bid for one of the five African berths at the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar. The top two teams in each second-round group plus the best third-placed side qualify.

Egypt (3-4, 10 points) drop to fifth in Group F and are now outside the qualification places. With Angola (4-2) and Mali (5-1) also ahead of them, they face a must-win scenario against DR Congo on Sunday.

Next fixtures:

• Ivory Coast vs Angola | Sunday, 30 August 2026, 11:30 GMT (Dakar Arena)
• DR Congo vs Egypt | Sunday, 30 August 2026, 08:30 GMT (Dakar Arena)

Ivory Coast were far from perfect — they shot just 33.8% from the field — but their composure in the third quarter and near-flawless free-throw shooting were the difference. Egypt will rue 14 missed free throws and their inability to sustain momentum after their Senegal scalp. The Elephants' depth and Dally's two-way presence make them a genuine contender for World Cup qualification; Egypt need a response within 24 hours.