CAIRO, Dec 27 (KUNA): Tunisia secured 85-69 victory over Kuwait in the opening match of  the 25th edition of the Arab Basketball Championship at Cairo International Stadium's Indoor Halls Complex.

Despite a strong start, the Kuwaiti team, led by German head coach Peter Schumers, faced missed opportunities and formidable opposition from the physically robust Tunisian team. Schumers acknowledged the outstanding performance of his players during the match but highlighted areas of improvement, particularly the team's vulnerabilities that became evident.

Expressing gratitude, Schumers commended the Kuwaiti national team players for their commitment to the agreed-upon plan on the court. He pledged to address the identified weaknesses to ensure better results in the upcoming matches of the championship.

Looking ahead, the Arab Championship, taking place from December 26 to January 3, features nine participating teams. Kuwait finds itself in the second group alongside Egypt, the Emirates, Tunisia, and Morocco. The first group comprises Algeria, Libya, Somalia, and Mauritania.

In subsequent matches, the Algerian national team is set to face Somali , while the Egyp national  will host UAE. The quarter-final matches are scheduled for January 1, followed by the semi-finals on January 2, and the concluding final round on January 3.

The Egyptian national team, boasting a remarkable 12-time championship record, is the historical champion of the competition, with their last victory in 2017. Notably, the Lebanese and Jordanian national teams will be absent from the tournament due to insufficient preparation time.

During the opening ceremony, Egypt's Minister of Youth and Sports, Ashraf Sobhy, extended a warm welcome to the participating teams, expressing gratitude for their engagement in the competition, which is slated to run until January 3.

Dhari Barjas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Basketball Federation, affirmed the tournament's inclusion of some of the top Arab teams. According to the International Basketball Federation's rankings, he highlighted Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia as among the best teams globally.

Barjas emphasized Kuwait's keenness to partake in the championship, citing the significant presence of formidable Arab teams. He underscored the event's role in fostering high-level competition, contributing to the overall development of Arab basketball.