Africa's top 10 players of the last decade (Part 1)

ABIDJAN - What an incredible decade of African basketball we've been treated to, and, as a result, FIBA Africa's editorial team has picked the top ten players to have starred over the past ten years.

In no particular order, we've selected these top ten players based on their impact at club and/or national teams' participations at FIBA competitions, which run from 2010 to 2020. 

It must be said that it wasn't an easy task to pick ten players from a list of 55 African players who could easily be part of this particular group.

For editorial purposes, we split this article in two parts with the next part being published in the next few days. 

Here we go.

Souleyman Diabate, 32, Cote d'Ivoire

Arguably one of the best point guards on the African continent, Solo - as he is fondly known - has been the face of the 'Elephants' in recent years.

Souleyman Diabate (Cote d'Ivoire)

A natural leader on the floor, Diabate, who hasn't missed a major tournament with Cote d'Ivoire, is the kind of guard that teams love having. 

His incredible ball-handling, speed to attack the basket and scoring prowess, have been crucial for his country who rightly closed the decade as No.5 team on the continent. 

Now, put together his averages of nine points and four assists per game at the 2010 and 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup editions, and it will say a lot about his importance for Cote d'Ivoire.

Carlos Morais, 34, Angola

Can we really talk about Angolan basketball in recent years without mention Morais? Probably not.

Most Valuable Player at FIBA AfroBasket 2013, the 1.92 (6ft 3in) shooting guard has been fundamental for his national team over the last decade.

Carlos Morais (Angola)

But, perhaps one of the highlights of his career with the 'Palancas Negras' happened during a must-win FIBA AfroBasket 2011 Quarter-Finals against Cameroon in Madagascar when he cooly converted all his six free-throws in the overtime, which helped the Angolans in an 84-83 victory. 

Angola have only one of the last four African Championships (2013), but Morais - a terrific scorer - has been named to three consecutive FIBA AfroBasket All-Tournament teams, namely in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

Al Farouq Aminu, 29, Nigeria

Aminu's first appearance with D'Tigers has coincided with the revival, and maybe, the highest moment of Nigerian basketball.

The 29-year-old small forward has played a vital role in helping Nigeria shock the world as they became the first African team to secure an Olympic berth via FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Venezuela.

Al Farouq Aminu (Nigeria)

In the South American country, Aminu not only averaged 13 points and five rebounds in five games, but he also proved fundamental in the wins against European powerhouses Greece and Lithuania, before they closed their historic qualifying campaign with a win over the Dominican Republic.

Following a disappointing FIBA AfroBasket 2013 campaign where the star-studded Nigeria team finished seventh, Aminu returned two years later to help his country win their first-ever African title thanks to a convincing 74-65 win over then-defending champions Angola in the final.

Over seven games in the Tunisian town of Rades - on the outskirts of Tunis - Aminu contributed an average of 12 points, five rebounds and two assists. 

And although, Aminu sat out the 2016 Rio Olympics, he has helped Nigeria claim Africa's best-placed team at FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, which qualified the D'Tigers for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Ike Diogu, 36, Nigeria 

Just a few days before Nigeria travelled to Tunisia for what turned out to be a historic moment for their country's basketball - as they won their first African title - Diogu got hurt. It was an unexpected experience, yet, he was so determined to make a difference that he watched the entire FIBA AfroBasket 2015 from the sidelines.

Ike Diogu (Nigeria)

Nigeria may have finished runners-up at FIBA AfroBasket 2017, but Diogu was huge. So much so, that he returned home with a special trophy, the Most Valuable Player award.

While Aminu was crucial during the 2012 OQT, the former Los Angeles Clippers man was key thanks to his 17 points and 11 rebounds per game.

Over the past decade, the 2.06m (6ft 9in) power forward became an inspirational figure for the D'Tigers never missing call up from his country.  

Salah Mejri, 34, Tunisia

Who would have said that a young man from the tiny town of Jendouba would become Tunisia's basketball hero? 

Mejri began playing basketball relatively late, but when former national team head coach Adel Tlatli spotted him, the veteran tactician was impressed by his work ethic and willingness to succeed in basketball.

Salah Mejri (Tunisia)

It didn't take long until the seven-footer center became a hit in African basketball landscape as he powered Tunisia to their first-ever FIBA AfroBasket title in 2011. In the process, Mejri was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

What followed was a life-changing experience as he landed contracts with European clubs Antwerp Giants, Spain's Obraidoro BC and Real Madrid before he joined NBA outfit Dallas Mavericks to became the first Tunisian to play in the NBA.

FIBA