CAIRO, Dec 28: Kuwait basketball team is gearing up for a crucial face-off against its Moroccan counterpart at  2:00 pm in the third round of the Arab Basketball Championship's second group competitions. Held in Cairo, Egypt, the championship runs until January 3.

In a must-win situation, Kuwait aims to secure victory and stay in contention and qualify for the second round. The team faced a setback in its second match, suffering a 41-92 defeat against Egypt, following an initial loss to Tunisia at the tournament's commencement.

In the same round, Tunisia secured a 66-54 victory over Morocco. The championship follows a single-round league system, with the top teams from each group advancing to face each other in the quarter-finals.

With nine teams participating, including the withdrawal of the Jordanian team, the last team in the second group, consisting of five teams, will exit the tournament after the group stage. The Blue Group comprises teams from Morocco, the Emirates, Tunisia, and the host Egypt. The second group features Algeria, Mauritania, Somalia, and Libya.

Egypt  took early control, showcasing excellence in both defensive and offensive aspects. The first quarter concluded with Egypt leading 22-6. Although the performance of Kuwait improved somewhat in the second quarter, they struggled to compete with the formidable Egyptian team, entering halftime with a score of 52-17.

Egypt maintained its dominance in the third quarter  , with Kuwait players attempting to keep up. However, Egypt ended the quarter with a commanding lead of 81-33. The final quarter underscored the Egyptian national team's dominance, concluding the match with an impressive 92-41 victory, securing a substantial 51-point margin.