Al Ahly and Egypt guard Ehab Amin sits down with Complex MENA to reflect on his journey from Alexandria to becoming one of the country’s most recognizable basketball players.
Some players build their identity long before the spotlight finds them. For Ehab Amin, that identity started at Sporting Club in Alexandria, where basketball and football shaped his earliest memories, and where six to eight hours a day with friends became the foundation of a career built on intensity, sacrifice, and winning.
Amin started playing basketball at five years old, but his journey would eventually stretch far beyond his early days in Egypt. From college basketball in the U.S. to becoming one of the faces of Al Ahly and the Egyptian national team, his game has been shaped by discipline on and off the court.
Now, after extending his stay with Al Ahly until 2028, Amin is thinking about legacy. Having just completed his seventh season with the club, the guard speaks openly about wanting to finish his career there, in a place that has become home through history, friendships, and a fanbase that makes the game feel bigger than basketball.
Amin was also part of the Al Ahly team that won the Basketball Africa League in 2023, a run that demanded more than what fans saw on the court. Between local finals, BAL travel, roster changes, and the pressure of competing against Africa’s best, the title came through sacrifice, chemistry, and constant adjustment.
For Amin, the story is not just about trophies. It is about the habits built in the U.S., the defensive identity that became his signature, and the Egyptian culture that keeps him grounded no matter where the game takes him.
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Complex MENA: For people meeting you for the first time, how would you describe your journey through basketball, from your early days in Egypt to becoming one of the country’s most recognizable players?
Ehab Amin: I started playing basketball at 5 years old in Sporting Club in Alexandria. My youth journey was full of sports, mainly football and basketball. I used to spend 6-8 hours every day with my friends playing.
Complex MENA: You recently extended your stay with Al Ahly until 2028 and have spoken about wanting to finish your career there. What makes Al Ahly feel like home for you?
Ehab Amin: I just finished my 7th season with Al Ahly, and I dream about finishing my career in such a prestigious club. I’ve spent my first 5 years living 5 mins away from the club, so it definitely felt like home to me. Also, few of my teammates are my very close friends, so it makes life easier on and off the court. Fans of Al Ahly love the game and they’re always great support and feel like a big family.
Complex MENA: You were part of the Al Ahly team that won the BAL in 2023. What’s one thing people don’t see about what it actually takes to win a competition at that level?
Ehab Amin: The BAL is a special tournament, including 12 of the continent champions in one tournament. The set-up is usually tougher for Egyptian teams participating because of scheduling conflicts and how long the season in Egypt goes compared to other leagues in Africa.
So we usually play our cup finals with the local squad, then travel to play the group stage with 5 foreigners, then back to Egypt to play the League finals with the locals again, then off to the finals with the 5 foreigners again.
So it takes a lot of sacrifices and adjusting to new roles, and integrating team chemistry is crucial to winning such a continental trophy. Also, it has become a very big tournament in Africa, so other clubs have been spending a lot on bringing top-level players, which has made the tournament much more competitive.
Complex MENA: BAL has become one of the biggest stages in African basketball. How has the league changed opportunities and visibility for players in Egypt and across the continent?
Ehab Amin: I think the BAL does a tremendous job of highlighting the game throughout the whole continent, through a great basketball atmosphere and culture.
Complex MENA: Your game is often built around intensity, steals, defense, and putting your body on the line. Did that identity come naturally, or did you build it because you knew it could separate you?
Ehab Amin: Honestly, it came naturally. Growing up, I enjoyed playing defense and stealing the ball as much as scoring, and I worked on it throughout my youth till it became a big part of my game.
Coaches at my early stages also emphasized the importance of my defense. Later, I learned that championships can only be won by strong defense, and being a winner, it has become a natural part of my game.
Complex MENA: Egypt is a football-first country, but basketball continues to grow. What do you think the sport still needs to reach a wider audience?
Ehab Amin: I think one of the main things that the federation have been doing a great job with lately is getting the games back to full capacity. Sports in general, not just basketball, become way more enjoyable with fans in attendance.
Complex MENA: You played college basketball in the U.S. before becoming one of the faces of Al Ahly and Egypt. What did the American basketball system teach you that still shows up in your game today?
Ehab Amin: It changed my off-the-court habits mainly, how I take care of my body, how I sleep, how I eat. I started listening to my body more. Plus, taking the weight room more seriously translated to the court and elevated my game.
Complex MENA: Outside basketball, what’s one thing about Egyptian culture, whether it’s music, food, fashion, or everyday life, that keeps you grounded no matter where the game takes you?
Ehab Amin: Just spending time with my brother. I love living and playing in my home country. Food in Egypt is amazing, love to go out to eat, and watch other sports or going to the movie theater is definitely in my weekly routine.
