TEAM PROFILE: Cote d'Ivoire inspired to gun for AfroCan title
Cote d'Ivoire are headed to the 2023 AfroCan with some level of confidence and enthusiasm. Their display during the Qualifiers gave a lot of cheer for their fans that were at the Palais Sports Treichville.
ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - There is no doubt that the successes Cote d'Ivoire have recorded thus far this year are an indication that a lot has changed positively for basketball in the country.
Cote d'Ivoire's qualification to the 2023 FIBA AfroCan translates their determination to remain constantly on the rise in the pursuit of their African basketball dreams.
Find below some fact-files about Cote d'Ivoire:
Team: Cote d'Ivoire
FIBA Ranking Men: 42nd in the world; (5th in Africa)
Last participation at the AfroCan: 2019
Best result at the AfroCan: Tenth-Place
How they qualified for the 2023 AfroCan: Cote d'Ivoire qualified to the 2023 FIBA AfroCan riding on a 3-0 victory over Benin (74-59), Guinea (88-64) and Nigeria (74-65) in the Zone 2+3 Qualifiers held in Abidjan.
Turning around the distant 10th place in 2019 is sure one the team would not want to happen again by any means this time around.
Africa: At the Final Round of the 2019 AfroCan, Cote d'Ivoire had a less than impressive performance finishing 10th place in Bamako, Mali but at the Zone 2+3 Qualifiers held in Abidjan, the Elephants were simply dominant and it was evident that they came prepared and ready to explore.
The last time Cote d'Ivoire's main team appeared in a continental competition was during the FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers and they ended it with a 10-2 record to secure their spot at the 32-nation basketball bonanza in Asia.
Lionel Kouadio
Star player: Cote d'Ivoire can count on Lionel Kouadio. He scored 22 points against Benin, 18 points against Guinea, and 18 points against Nigeria for a total of 58 points in three AfroCan Qualifiers games.
The shooting guard has represented his country's U18 team. At the age 19 he was the youngest player on the Ivorian roster, on opening day of the 2021 FIBA AfroBasket,
The Elephants can also bank on Ulrich Mohamed Kra. He stars for reigning champions of the Ivorian League, ABC Fighters.
Against Nigeria, he scored 14 points, 13 points against Guinea and 6 points against Benin. He is a hard fighter who stands his ground, and is always ready to go all the way.
Head Coach: Doh Kone was first appointed in 2022 as an assistant coach to Cote d'Ivoire's main team to work with Coach Dejan Prokic. He is coach of CSA Treichville and very familiar with players in the domestic league in the country.
Outlook: Cote d'Ivoire are headed to the 2023 AfroCan with some level of confidence and enthusiasm. Their display during the Qualifiers gave a lot of cheer for their fans that were at the Palais de Sports Treichville. Many will look forward to them sustaining that level of confidence and put up a good performance that will see them all the way to the final.
The Ivorians are drawn in Group A of the AfroCan with Kenya and Gabon.
FIBA