Team Profile: Cote d'Ivoire out to try to carry over continental success to world stage

JAKARTA (Indonesia) - Cote d'Ivoire will make their second straight appearance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, as they look to build off their success at the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 and African Qualifiers.

The Roster

The Elephants have trimmed their roster down to 13 players. Among those still on board are Vafessa Fofana, a member of the 2019 World Cup team who played in all 12 games of the African Qualifiers, 36-year-old Souleymane Diabate and 24-year-old Maxence Dadiet. Diabate and Dadiet played in nine of the African Qualifiers.

Vafessa Fofana (right) will have a leadership role at the World Cup for Cote d'Ivoire

These are expected to be the core players alongside Nisre Zouzoua and Assemian Moulare.

"My motivation is to represent the country," Diabate said to FIBA.basketball. "This is great. I represent my country, my family name. Where I am from, it's unbelievable to be at this level with the best in the world once again."

Diabate, who played at the World Cup in 2010 and 2019, will therefore bring plenty of experience to the team.

The Question

Can the younger players complement the veterans and provide a spark when the team needs it?

Moulare has started to show his potential in a recent call-up to the national team, averaging 11.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game in six African Qualifier contests.

In a World Cup tune-up win against Czech Republic on July 28, Moulare scored 15 points, so a shot of youthful exuberance and energy could go a long way with tough games on the horizon in the First Round against defending champions Spain, Brazil, who are No. 13 in the FIBA World Ranking, presented by Nike, and Asia juggernauts Iran.

Assemian Moulare (left) has shown glimpses of his skill set and potential

The Hope

Cote d'Ivoire make a breakthrough in their fifth-ever World Cup and record more than one win at the event. Their best result at a World Cup in terms of record is 1-4, which occurred at the 2010 edition in Turkey. Even if they were to win only one game in Group G, they would have the opportunity to pick up another win in the 17th-32nd Classification Round against one of the other two teams from Group H.

Doing so would be viewed as an important feat for an African nation and would also result in their best ever finish in terms of placement.

Souleyman Diabate

The momentum during the qualification campaign was excellent.

"The atmosphere within the team was great and we had a good balance between young players and veterans," said Diabate. "The goal was the same for everybody: Team first, nobody is above the team, and we had a good coaching staff also."

The Fear

The Elephants' streak of finishing 21st or worse stretches to four World Cups and the team can't find a way to make a name for themselves at this year's edition. It probably will not help that experienced sharpshooter Stephane Konate, veteran guard Guy Edi and naturalized power forward Matt Costello, who was an All-Star Five selection at FIBA AfroBasket 2021 when the team lost to Tunisia in a thrilling Final, are all absent.

 IN THE LAST 10 FIBA EVENTS

YEAR	EVENT	LOCATION	ACHIEVEMENT
2021	FIBA AfroBasket	Kigali (RWA)	2nd
2019	FIBA Basketball World Cup	Beijing (CHN)	29th
2017	FIBA AfroBasket	Rades (TUN)/Dakar (SEN)	14th
2015	FIBA AfroBasket	Rades (TUN)	12th
2013	FIBA AfroBasket	Abidjan (CIV)	4th
2011	FIBA AfroBasket	Antananarivo (MAD)	4th
2010	FIBA Basketball World Cup	Istanbul (TUR)	21st
2009	FIBA AfroBasket	Tripoli (LBA)	2nd
2007	FIBA AfroBasket	Luanda (ANG)	8th
2005	FIBA AfroBasket	Algiers (ALG)	10th

The Poll

 

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For a deeper look on Cote d'Ivoire's journey to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, click here.

FIBA