Egypt’s World Cup squad given major boost with US-based Gardner, Moussa

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Updated 23 August 2023
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Egypt’s World Cup squad given major boost with US-based Gardner, Moussa

  • After signing training camp deal with Brooklyn Nets, Gardner 24, joins Pharaohs in their first World Cup outing since 2014
  • Lebanon and Jordan also at basketball’s premier event hosted by Philippines, Indonesia and Japan starting Friday Aug. 25

Patrick Yousef Gardner has had an eventful summer but it is about to get more intense as he prepares to suit up for Egypt at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, which is being hosted by the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan from Friday Aug. 25.

The 24-year-old center, who was born in Merrick, New York, to an Egyptian mother and American father, did not hear his name called out in the 2023 NBA Draft but bounced back with an NBA Summer League appearance for the Miami Heat before agreeing on a deal with the Brooklyn Nets. This would see him join the team in training camp and potentially play for their G-League affiliate Long Island side.

But before he turns his attention to the Nets, Gardner gets to check an important item off his bucket list as he joins the Pharaohs in their first World Cup outing since 2014.

It is a dream opportunity for the 2.10-meter Gardner, who gets to connect with his Egyptian roots while helping the team tackle a tricky Group D in Manila that includes Lithuania, Montenegro and Mexico.

“It’s a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to play for this team but I never thought it was possible until this year. So I’m just so excited to be a part of this and I’m ready to compete with this amazing team,” Gardner told Arab News in Abu Dhabi, where Egypt held a one-week training camp and participated in games during International Basketball Week.

Gardner recalls the trips he made to Egypt with his family when he was younger, which included visits to the Pyramids, Red Sea, and vacation at the North Coast by the Mediterranean.

“My mom really loves her country which kind of spread to us and that made us really appreciate where she’s from and we try to embrace it as much as we can,” he said.

“She always took us to Egypt in high school to spend the summers there. I really loved my time there.”

It is a different, and potentially career-defining, kind of summer for the hardworking Gardner, who is keen to seize every opportunity that comes his way.

“As a basketball player like me, everything is uncertain kind of, because if you’re in the NBA and you’re signing a long-term contract, you’re kind of set. But you still gotta earn your respect and your way in any league you play in, so there’s a lot of uncertainty but as long as you stay ready, that’s all you can ask for,” he explained.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty and it could be stressful but I’m glad I have really good people that surround me to make me feel comfortable to know that whatever the outcome is that everything will work out.”

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Gardner began speaking to the Egyptian Basketball Federation last year but it was not until last week that he finally got his paperwork in order. He subsequently received his Egyptian passport and was able to fly from Cairo to join the national team’s pre-World Cup camp at NYU Abu Dhabi.

“It’s been great, they’re such good people, they welcomed me in, which was something I was a little nervous about, coming from America and stuff, but I have nothing but respect for them and I’m so happy that they welcomed me in and everything,” said Gardner of his teammates.

He acknowledges that the Pharaohs face a daunting task in Manila but added: “I think we all believe that we more than belong and I believe that we can make some upsets.”

Another late addition to the squad is 21-year-old point guard Adam Moussa, who arrived in Abu Dhabi last Wednesday, new Egyptian passport in hand, and was on court two days later repping the North Africans in an exhibition game against Lebanon at Etihad Arena.

Moussa was born in Cairo but moved with his family to the US at age 6, and grew up in Coppell, a Dallas suburb.

He recently committed to Tarleton State University, where he plays Division I basketball while pursuing a master’s degree.

“My dad pretty much threw away his dream of playing basketball. He was playing professionally and stopped it short for us to have a chance to grow up in America because he knew the training is better and just the facilities are better at the time,” said Moussa.

“It’s been a difficult road, even in high school, in middle school, I’m just a kid and my dad’s making me practice two times a day and I want to go out hang out with my friends. But it’s all worth it now and I owe everything to him.

“It means the world to me to be part of this national team and I can’t wait to represent my country.”

Moussa impressed against Lebanon last Thursday and seems to have blended seamlessly with the Egyptian squad. It may not have sunk in just yet that he is currently in Manila ready to compete in a World Cup.

“Honestly I kind of feel like I’m at school still and I’m just playing with friends, I haven’t realized the moment and I hope that’s how it stays until after the tournament’s over so I don’t get too shell-shocked,” he said.

“It means a lot to my family that I’m doing this but there was no change in the house, there’s nothing, they’re acting like it’s another tournament, and it’s good to keep me a little bit grounded, just not to get too high and too low, so I appreciate that a lot.”

Canadian coach Roy Rana took over the reins of Team Egypt at the start of 2022 and he reached out to Moussa to see if he wanted to join the roster. Rana helped guide Canada to the U19 World Cup in Cairo in 2017 and has built a promising Egyptian team that mixes experience with youth.

It is a novel approach for Egypt, giving a chance to young talents including 18-year-old Karim Hatem and 21-year-old Moussa and one that could pay some handsome dividends down the road.

“It’s a very smart team and very fun to play with. There’s no chemistry issues at all,” added Moussa.

Meanwhile, Lebanon has recruited former NBA player Omari Spellman, giving the Ohio native citizenship, so he could help them in their first World Cup appearance since 2010.

The 26-year-old power forward, who is fresh off a title run with Anyang KGC in the Korean Basketball League, won a national championship in college with Villanova in 2018 and was drafted 30th overall by the Atlanta Hawks that year.

Spellman admits he has a lot to learn about Lebanon but is already starting to appreciate what the Cedars are all about.

“Honestly, at first I didn’t understand. But just being around these guys, being around my coaching staff, being around my teammates on a daily basis, I really started to understand and embrace the culture,” he said.

“The fans are great, my teammates are great, I’m just so proud and happy to be a part of this.

“They’re very passionate, they have a lot of emotion and they have high expectations and it’s my job to meet those expectations but at the same time never doubt myself. I’m just happy to be a part of that culture finally and I just want to make those guys proud.”

Spellman says the team’s unity is what stands out the most and he is excited to get their campaign underway at the World Cup, where they join Latvia, France and Canada in a loaded Group H in Jakarta.

“It’s pressure but it’s nothing new. I’ve seen it, I’ve seen it at all levels. I was at Villanova on our way to a national championship run and things that were said, the scrutiny during that, all throughout my career so this is nothing new. I’ve just got to keep stepping up to the plate,” said Spellman.

“We’re going to play as hard as possible. That is something that coach Jad (El-Hajj) has instilled in us and something that we want to continue to do. I know you’ve seen Ali Mezher stealing the ball, running all over the court, Ali Mansour, those guys are incredible, Wael Arakji, I’m just so proud of my guys.

“Everybody’s together, when I wasn’t playing well, those guys didn’t give up on me and they stayed with me. When someone misses a shot we stay with him, when things get rough we stay together. So as long (as) we stay together we’ll be fine through any storm.”

Jordan have also made it to the World Cup and are in Group C alongside the US, Greece and New Zealand in Manila.


Davis Thompson makes late birdie to break out of a logjam and lead John Deere

Updated 06 July 2025
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Davis Thompson makes late birdie to break out of a logjam and lead John Deere

  • He will try to become the first player to win back-to-back at the John Deere Classic since Steve Stricker won three in a row from 2009 through 2011
  • Of the top 14 players, only Lipsky, Koivun and Kevin Roy have yet to win on the PGA Tour

SILVIS, Illinois:Davis Thompson made a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Saturday to break out of a logjam that at one point featured 10 players tied for the lead, giving him a 4-under 67 on a much tougher golf course and a one-shot lead in the John Deere Classic.

Thompson was among five players tied for the lead when he stood over his final putt, after Brian Campbell had just holed a 30-foot birdie putt.

His final birdie put him at 15-under 198, one shot ahead of Campbell, Max Homa, Emiliano Grillo and David Lipsky, each of whom had a 68.

About the only player not in the mix was 36-hole leader Doug Ghim, who played his last 10 holes with two bogeys and no birdies and shot 74, pushing him outside the top 20.

Thompson had a birdie-birdie finish, though he missed an 8-foot eagle attempt on the par-5 17th hole. He will try to become the first player to win back-to-back at the John Deere Classic since Steve Stricker won three in a row from 2009 through 2011.

Also at stake for Thompson is a chance to get into the British Open, as a victory would move him to the top of the alternate list determined by the next world ranking.

But the final 18 holes feels a lot longer off considering how many players are very much in the mix going into Sunday.

“Nice to have some momentum going into tomorrow,” Thompson said.

Camilo Villegas (69) and Austin Eckroat (67) were among four players three shots behind. Matt Kuchar (67) and Auburn junior Jackson Koivun were in the group four back. Thirteen players were within four shots of the lead.

Of the top 14 players, only Lipsky, Koivun and Kevin Roy have yet to win on the PGA Tour. Homa is the most proven of the lot, though he has been trying to pull himself out of a deep slump that has left him on the outside of just trying to make the PGA Tour playoffs this year.

Homa was steady again, even after one of his rare misses. He was some 40 yards left of the green at the par-5 10th, even going across the road, but managed to escape with par and then took advantage of the scoring holes on the back nine for his 68.

Homa last won on the PGA Tour in January 2023 at Torrey Pines. He has been under scrutiny this year for his poor form — more than a year since his last top 10 — while changing coaches, equipment and twice changing caddies.

“Golf has just been very boring for me this year. I haven’t had a whole lot of stress, and you want to be stressed out. So I look forward to the butterflies in the morning; I look forward to the first tee shot,” Homa said. “It’s just nice to get to feel that again. It’s been a while.”

This was not the same TPC Deere Run that yielded low scores over the opening two rounds. The starting times were moved up to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, and hot weather and wind combined to make the greens firmer and fasters. Plus, several of the pins were tucked along the edges, punishing misses on the wrong side.

No one shot lower than 66 in the third round. There were 28 scores of 65 or better over the opening two rounds.

“Certainly makes for a fun Sunday when a bunch of guys have a chance,” Kuchar said.

One of them is Koivun, still four shots back but with a chance to make it two years in a row with an amateur winning on the PGA Tour. Nick Dunlap won The American Express last year in January and left Alabama to turn pro, having $20 million signature events to play.

Koivun already is assured a PGA Tour card through the PGA Tour University accelerated program, but is deferring that to return to Auburn.

“It’s obviously very inspiring to see what he did about a year ago now,” Koivun said. “Obviously, to be one of the few (amateurs) to win a professional event would be great. At the end of the day I just got to go give it my best shot and be happy with the result.”


Messi returns to MLS with spectacular double in Inter victory

Updated 06 July 2025
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Messi returns to MLS with spectacular double in Inter victory

  • Messi made sure there was no lingering let-down for Javier Mascherano’s side, who are aiming to improve on their curent sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 32 points from 17 matches
  • Miami now face a hectic MLS stretch, with five more matches before the end of the month

MONTREAL: Lionel Messi scored two brilliant goals to lift Inter Miami to a 4-1 victory over Montreal in Miami’s return to Major League Soccer action on Saturday in the wake of their elimination from the Club World Cup.

Miami were playing their first MLS game in more than a month. They had advanced past the first phase of the Club World Cup but fell 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 last week.

Messi made sure there was no lingering let-down for Javier Mascherano’s side, who are aiming to improve on their curent sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 32 points from 17 matches.

“It is a great night, we took the three points that were very necessary to start thinking about the MLS again,” Mascherano said. “It is never easy to reintegrate into the competition after the Club World Cup, and the players have done it perfectly.”

Messi was a key figure throughout, although it was his miscue that led to the first goal for Montreal.

His backpass fell right in front of Montreal’s Prince Owusu, who fired a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari to make it 1-0 after two minutes.

Messi more than atoned. In the 33rd minute, Messi found Tadeo Allende outside the area and Allende chipped a shot over Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirios.

In the 40th minute Messi conjured his trademark magic, cutting in from the right corner of the box, eluding Fernando Alvarez and curling the ball in at the far post for a goal that gave Miami a 2-1 halftime lead.

Telasco Segovia made it 3-1 in the 60th minute with a blast from outside the area that hit the crossbar and bounced into the net.

Messi bagged his second goal two minutes later, evading four defenders and finishing an outstanding solo run with a shot into the heart of the goal.

Messi now has seven goals in his last four MLS matches, bringing his total to 12 in 14 games.

“Leo is happy playing football,” Mascherano said. “Every time he is fit, he is going to play. Clearly we have an extra advantage when he plays and we want to use that advantage as much as possible.”

Miami now face a hectic MLS stretch, with five more matches before the end of the month.


France make Euro 2025 statement against holders England as Miedema completes century

Updated 06 July 2025
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France make Euro 2025 statement against holders England as Miedema completes century

  • Vivianne Miedema scored her 100th international goal as the Netherlands swept past Wales to take the initiative in the group
  • France face underdogs Wales next on Wednesday while England have a huge clash with the Netherlands, again at the Letzigrund Stadium

ZURICH: France staked their claim to be contenders for Women’s Euro 2025 by beating holders England 2-1 on Saturday and joining the Netherlands at the top of Group D.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore netted within three minutes of each other toward the end of the first half as England became the first defending champions to lose their opening fixture at the Euros.

Laurent Bonadei’s team are level on three points with leaders the Dutch, who cruised past Wales 3-0 earlier on Saturday, after striking a big blow in the battle to qualify from possibly the hardest group at the tournament.

France face underdogs Wales next on Wednesday while England have a huge clash with the Netherlands, again at the Letzigrund Stadium.

“I expected a good performance because we prepared well. It’s always good to get off to a good start even if it’s only the first match,” said Delphine Cascarino.

“We were really good both going forward and in defense.”

The French were better all over the pitch, driven by the fabulous wing play of Baltimore and Cascarino, while Keira Walsh’s lovely strike with three minutes remaining made the scoreline flatter unconvincing England.

Not even Lauren James’ return to the starting XI could inspire England, the Chelsea star way below her best as the Lionesses struggled to put any pressure on France until it was too late.

“Of course I’m very disappointed,” said Sarina Wiegman, who lost her perfect Euros record as coach with Saturday’s defeat.

“We had three very good weeks and we played really well, but that’s never a guarantee that you win the game. We also know that France is a proper team too, so you have to do things really well. We just didn’t get it right.”

Alessia Russo thought she had given England the lead in the 16th minute when she prodded home on the rebound after Pauline Peyraud-Magnin kept out Lauren Hemp’s shot, only for the goal to be ruled out for a razor-thin offside in the build-up.

From there, France took the initiative, pushing England back into their own half and dominating possession, and they had a deserved lead through Katoto in the 36th minute when the Lyon forward guided home Cascarino’s low cross.

And three minutes later Baltimore made the scoreline accurately represent the balance of play with a wonderful individual goal, easily skipping around Lucy Bronze and Leah Williamson before rifling her finish into the top corner.

Walsh found the top corner with England’s first shot on target and Wiegman’s team almost snatched a point in the dying moments when Selma Bacha cleared Michelle Agyemang’s shot off the line and saved the result for France.

Vivianne Miedema scored her 100th international goal as the Netherlands swept past Wales to take the initiative in the group.

Manchester City striker Miedema opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime in Lucerne with a beautiful curling strike, completing her century of goals for her country.

Victoria Pelova and Esmee Brugts netted the other goals after the break to give Wales a rude awakening in their major tournament debut.

“They defended really well and I’m glad my goal helped to start it all up,” said Miedema.

“In the second half, you saw that we can play a bit more, and eventually we also scored two really good goals.”

Andries Jonker’s team are top on goal difference while Wales already have their work cut out to qualify.

Rhian Wilkinson’s side could easily have been behind before Miedema, who was a doubt for the tournament after suffering a hamstring injury in April, struck, as Jill Roord crashed a rocket of a shot off the post in the 35th minute.

Pelova doubled the Oranje’s lead two minutes after the break when she rifled home from Danielle van de Donk’s pass, and the Arsenal midfielder set up Brugts to make absolutely sure of the points in the 57th minute with a perfect deep cross.


Real Madrid holds off hard-charging Borussia Dortmund to earn semifinal berth

Updated 06 July 2025
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Real Madrid holds off hard-charging Borussia Dortmund to earn semifinal berth

  • Real Madrid will play Paris Saint-Germain in the same city on Wednesday

Gonzalo Garcia rewarded his coach’s faith in him with the opening goal to help Real Madrid to a wild-ending 3-2 win against Borussia Dortmund in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday afternoon to advance to the semifinals of the Club World Cup.
Real Madrid will play Paris Saint-Germain in the same city on Wednesday.
With superstar Kylian Mbappe gradually recovering from an illness, coach Xabi Alonso elected to instead start the 21-year-old Garcia and he scored his fourth goal of the Club World Cup in the 10th minute.
Fran Garcia, no relation, made it 2-0 in the 20th.
Then it got crazy. Dortmund’s Max Beier cut the lead in half in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.
Mbappe, who entered in the 67th minute, made it 3-1 in 90+4 with a spectacular side-volley but Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen was red-carded in 90+6 for a foul in the box and Serhou Guirassy converted the penalty kick in 90+8.
Dortmund had one final try and Thibaut Courtois made a great full-extension save on Marcel Sabitzer in 90+10.
The match looked fully in hand until a clearance bounced to Beier and he first-timed a strike that brushed Huijsen on the way in to make it 2-1.
Mbappe then did his thing from the left side of the 6-yard box off the second assist of the match for Guler.
Just as Real Madrid was ready to exhale, Huijsen prevented goal-scoring opportunity and Guirassy scored for the third time in two matches.
Huijsen is suspended for the semifinal.
It was left to Courtois with his diving stop at the left corner to finally seal the win.


Shane van Gisbergen wins the pole for Cup Series race in downtown Chicago

Updated 06 July 2025
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Shane van Gisbergen wins the pole for Cup Series race in downtown Chicago

  • Van Gisbergen has won the pole for Sunday’s Grant Park 165

CHICAGO: When it comes to NASCAR’s street course in downtown Chicago, there is Shane van Gisbergen, and then there is everyone else.
Van Gisbergen has won the pole for Sunday’s Grant Park 165. The 36-year-old New Zealander turned a lap at 88.338 mph on a tricky 2.2-mile course that was made more treacherous by temperatures in the 90s Fahrenheit on Saturday.
“Practice wasn’t that great for us, but when we went out for qualifying, the car felt really good,” van Gisbergen said. “We turned in two pretty good laps.”
The Trackhouse Racing driver will be joined on the front row by Michael McDowell, who grabbed the second slot at 87.879 mph. Carson Hocevar (87.824 mph), Tyler Reddick (87.779 mph) and Chase Briscoe (87.734 mph) rounded out the top five.
McDowell is one of three drivers who finished in the top 10 in the first two races in downtown Chicago.
“Our car’s in the game,” he said. “Tomorrow will be a mixed bag with potential weather in and out. So a lot of variables to go out there and navigate.”
Van Gisbergen, a three-time champion in Australia’s Supercars, also was on the pole for Saturday’s Xfinity Series race.
“I learned a lot in the Xfinity Series car this morning, and that just gives you a great leg up for the Cup car,” he said. “I think it’s great running both cars, it certainly helps.”
Just two years ago, van Gisbergen raced to a historic victory in a rainy first edition of NASCAR’s downtown Chicago experiment. Making the most of his extensive street racing experience, he became the first driver to win his Cup Series debut since Johnny Rutherford in the second qualifying race at Daytona in 1963.
He won Chicago’s Xfinity Series stop last year and the first stage in the Cup race before he was knocked out by a crash.
Katherine Legge became the first woman to qualify for the Cup race in downtown Chicago when she turned a lap of 85.744 mph, knocking Corey Heim out of the field.
“We would have been a lot faster, I think, had I not kept nicking the wall,” Legge said. “I’ve given my crew a lot of work to do from that, but we had to keep pushing to put it in the show. I’m really proud of this team, and I’m very much looking forward to tomorrow.”