Cote d'Ivoire outclass Mali, return to World Cup for first time since 2010

ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - Cote d'Ivoire on Sunday night completed the five-team African lineup for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China after beating Mali 69-49 in their largest city of Abidjan.

Souleyman Diabate was 4 for 7 from behind the arc to head all scorers with 16 points, Guy Edi and Bryan Pamba combined for 23 points as Cote d'Ivoire wrote a remarkable chapter in their basketball history.

 Mahamadou Drame came off the bench to lead Mali with a team-high 9points but the game belonged to the Ivorians who dominated and led for most of the game. 

Cote d'Ivoire came into the last qualifying window with a 4-5 mark and sitting in fourth-place of Group F, however, three wins in as many games - including an expressive 72-46 win against Nigeria - turned their fortunes around as the 'Elephants' finished as the best third-placed team from across Groups E and F of the African Qualifiers.

Joy for Cote d'Ivoire meant disappointment for Cameroon as both teams finished with a 7-5 mark each. 

Nevertheless, Cote d'Ivoire leapfrogged Cameroon thanks to a better goal-differential.

Guy Edi was huge for the Ivorians, averaging 12 points in the last three games of the African Qualifiers 

Sunday's Cote d'Ivoire win marks the 'Elephants' return to the FIBA Basketball World Cup for the first time since 2010.

Nine years ago they qualified for the Turkey 2010 showpiece as runners-up of the FIBA AfroBasket 2009.

However, a disappointing fourth-place at FIBA AfroBasket 2013 held at the Palais des Sports of Treichville in Abidjan saw them fail qualification for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014 in Spain.

This time around, Cote d'Ivoire brought back half of the team from 2013 to stun Africa's basketball scene by claiming the best third-placed team on the continent's World Cup qualifiers.

 The Ivorians outscored all their last three opponents (Nigeria, Rwanda and Mali) by an average of 24 points.

Cote d'Ivoire join Angola, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia as Africa's representative at the upcoming 32-nation FIBA Basketball World Cup.

FIBA