Fofana: "Cote d'Ivoire have a target on our backs now"

GRAVELINES (France) - Winning provides plenty of joy, but also headaches. A major disadvantage coming with success is going from the hunter to the hunted.

And Cote d'Ivoire must be ready to get teams' best shots in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers, according to Vafessa Fofana.

"WE ARE A GOOD COUNTRY RIGHT NOW IN AFRICA, SO EVERYBODY WANTS TO SHOW THEY CAN BEAT THIS TEAM."- Vafessa Fofana

The Elephants emerged on the continental landscape this past summer as they reached the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Final to collect their first silver medal since 2009. And even though Cote d'Ivoire lost to Tunisia in the title bout, Fofana will be urging his teammates to watch out in the up-coming window in Angola.

"It's going to be different because we are the vice-champions from Africa and everybody will be looking to beat us. We need to be serious for 40 minutes each game," Fofana said. "We are a good country right now in Africa so everybody wants to show they can beat this team - like Nigeria, Senegal or Tunisia. We have a target on our backs now. We have to be focused."

 
Fofana still has mixed emotions about the continental tournament in September in Rwanda, where Cote d'Ivoire reached their first final since 2009 but just missed out on taking their first AfroBasket crown since 1985 with a 78-75 loss to Tunisia.

"I'm happy because it was my first competition where we won a medal but maybe a little sad because we had a chance to win the gold. It feels like we didn't finish the job. On the last possession and we just turned the ball over. We didn't even shoot. If we shoot and we miss, then okay. But we didn't even try. So I am sad about that. But I'm happy because it was my first medal," said Fofana, referring to Matt Costello committing a turnover in the team's final possession.

Fofana averaged 10.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals in the tournament and he is looking to have the same role on The Elephants team when they travel to Benguela to take on the hosts Angola, Central African Republic and Guinea in Group C of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers.

"I want to help lead the team, play hard on defense, talk and show my energy," said the 29-year-old forward, who is playing professionally for BCM Gravelines Dunkerque in France's ProA first division.

Fofana figures all three games in Benguela will be difficult, starting on November 26 against Angola - a country which beat Cote d'Ivoire in the 2009 AfroBasket Final and the 2013 AfroBasket Semi-Finals.

Cote d'Ivoire hosting FIBA AfroBasket 2013 - losing to Angola in the Semi-Finals

"I remember watching those games. But I have never played against Angola. They had some great players. It's not the same team as before but they are still dangerous," he said. "They have Carlos Morais and others. They have some good players. We saw that at the AfroBasket 2021, where they made the Quarter-Finals and played Senegal. They are a very dangerous team, and it will be a tough game, especially because it will be in Angola. There will be a lot of people at the game. We just need to be ourselves and play hard like we did at AfroBasket."

Cote d'Ivoire's opponent on November 27, Central African Republic, actually beat the Elephants twice in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers - once in overtime but both games were close.

"We are a better team now and we have experience," said a confident Fofana, who played in the second of those two games in 2018.

 
Fofana said Cote d'Ivoire had best be warned about their final opponent in the up-coming window on November 28, Guinea - a team that lost 98-50 to the Elephants in the 2021 AfroBasket Quarter-Finals.

"For me, Guinea will be the most dangerous because we beat them by 48. They have pride and will not want the same thing to happen again. For me, if a team beats me by 48 and we have a chance to play them again I would come back and say, no, not two times in a row," Fofana reasoned. "It will be a big war against them because they will want to show that they are not a team that you can beat every time by 30 or 40 points."

That's what it is like having a target on your backs as Cote d'Ivoire will find out later this month.

FIBA