NICOSIA (Cyprus) - France's new era following Paris 2024 did not start quite as smoothly as expected, but new head coach Frederic Fauthoux still led the Olympic silver medallists past a feisty Cyprus 75-59.
For his first game in charge of France, Fauthoux selected five players who were making their debut for Les Bleus: Brice Dessert, Noa Essengue, Adam Mokoka, Jean-Marc Pansa and Nolan Traore.
Together with their new head coach, they showed that the future of French basketball still remains very bright as their superior strength eventually showed.
Turning point
Cyprus, who are ranked 82nd in the FIBA World Ranking Presented by NIKE, led for five minutes in the first half, trailed just 37-31 at halftime and were actually ahead 50-49 in the waning seconds of the third quarter thanks to four three-pointers from Konstantinos Simitzis.
But fans of world number four ranked France were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief with a 15-0 run spanning the final two quarters for a 64-50 lead.
Game hero
Yoan Makoundou had just two points in the first three quarters before going off in the opening stage of the final frame with a basket, six free throws, three-pointer and big dunk for 13 points in the big 15-0 surge.
Makoundou ended with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals while Alex Bouteille added 15 points and Traore chipped in 10 points and 3 assists.
Stats don't lie
France's five debutants compiled 22 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals with Dessert, Mokoka and Traore all starting the game. As a team, France committed only 9 turnovers while holding Cyprus to 41 percent from the field and forcing 19 turnovers.
Bottom line
France are now 3-0 in Group E and would qualify for next summer's spectacle with a second win over Cyprus on Sunday if either Bosnia and Herzegovina or Croatia also win twice. Cyprus are winless at 0-3 in the group but will be on hand at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 as co-hosts.
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FIBA