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Lebanon failed to make a strong start in the second edition of the Doha International Tournament, falling to Egypt (70-82) on Friday.

They thought they were untouchable. Buoyed by the success of their clubs in regional competitions, the Lebanese team entered the Doha Tournament with overconfidence. But Egypt brought them crashing back to reality, securing a dominant 82-70 victory on Friday night at Qatar University Arena. This tournament, organized by the Qatari Federation, is part of Qatar’s preparations for the 2027 FIBA World Cup.

A One-Sided Game

From the very start, the Pharaohs imposed their dominance. More aggressive and better organized, they controlled the game from start to finish, winning three out of four quarters (23-15, 24-22, 17-19, 18-14). On the other hand, Lebanon—missing six key players (Waël Arakji, Amir Saoud, Ali Haidar, Sergio Darwiche, Haig Gyokchyan, and Omari Spellman, who was replaced by Ater Majok)—lacked impact and cohesion.

Underwhelming Individual Performances

While Ater Majok held his ground with 17 points and both Karim Ezzedine (12 pts) and Mark Khoury (10 pts) contributed, it wasn’t enough to stop the Egyptian powerhouse. On the other side, Mohamed Taha “Mido” was unstoppable with 26 points, highlighting the gap between the two teams.

A Wake-Up Call for Lebanon

Beyond the defeat, Lebanon’s attitude was concerning. Lacking the humility and focus required at this level, the Cedars seemed to underestimate their opponent—an error Egypt took full advantage of. This humbling loss should serve as a much-needed reality check.

To their credit, the Lebanese team had to deal with the absence of several key starters, which undoubtedly affected their performance. But that alone doesn’t explain everything—the team lacked collective cohesion and struggled against a well-prepared Egyptian side.

Other Results and Upcoming Fixtures

In the other game of the night, the Philippines edged out Qatar in a close contest (74-71).

The tournament continues on Saturday with two exciting matchups:

• Lebanon vs. Philippines (5:00 PM)

• Qatar vs. Egypt (immediately after)

The tournament will conclude on Sunday with a highly anticipated clash between Lebanon and the host nation, Qatar, at 5:00 PM, followed by Egypt vs. the Philippines.

Lebanon must bounce back. It’s up to them to prove that this defeat was just a slip-up, not a sign of decline.