Basketball's Ismail Ahmed is Defying Time to Aim for Another Record

Ismail Ahmed built a basketball career that stretched across decades, countries and eras. From his first paycheck at Ittihad Alexandria in 1993, ‘Somaa’ — as fans know him — carved out his place through consistency as much as talent, despite his 2-metre frame. Inspired early on by Alexandria icon Medhat Warda, Ahmed went on to become one of the sport’s most enduring figures. Born on September 23rd, 1976, and nicknamed ‘The Egyptian Pharaoh’, he eventually made history as the oldest professional basketball player.
A Passion Born Early
Ismail's relationship with basketball started at six years old at the Muslim Youth Club, sparked by a family member who played the game. Fuelled by his admiration for Warda, the godfather of Alexandrian basketball, he stormed onto the scene in 1993 at just 17, suiting up for Ittihad Alexandria in the Egyptian Premier League. Going Pro
In 1997, Lebanese coach Fouad Abu Shakra came calling with an offer to join Al Warda (Rosayr) in Lebanon. That changed everything. From there, Ahmed went on to represent some of Lebanon's biggest clubs including Al Riyadi, Al Hikma, Champville, and Homenetmen. He spent over two decades in the country, becoming one of its prominent faces of basketball. Back and Forth
Ahmed returned to Ittahid between 2000 and 2002, winning almost everything except the African championship, before heading back abroad. In 2009 he returned again, until the Egyptian league was suspended following the January 2011 Revolution. At that point, Al Riyadi Lebanon brought him back. Then in January 2020, he returned to Ittihad Alexandria once more, winning the Egyptian Premier League title for the 2019–20 season and being named the league's best player.
By the numbers
12 titles with Ittihad Alexandria. 32 with Al Riyadi Beirut. The Arab Club Championship with Al Jazeera Egypt in 2001. The Lebanese Cup with Champville in 2014. Three titles with Homenetmen Beirut. One with Al Hikma Lebanon. And a string of invitational tournament wins including the Saad El Hariri, Dubai International, and Aleppo tournaments. As an individual, he was named Egyptian Premier League MVP 2020 and is the all-time leading Arab Club Championship title winner. Ahmed has also notched multiple Lebanese League MVP awards. With Egypt's National Team, he played in the 1994 World Cup, won gold at the 1996 African Games, silver at AfroBasket 1999, bronze at Africa 2001 and 2003 and silver at the 2007 African Games. He retired from international basketball that same year.