Cote d'Ivoire's Mariama Kouyate dreaming big ahead of Women's AfroBasket Qualifiers

ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - The podium has remained evasive for Cote d'Ivoire as far as the FIBA Women's AfroBasket has been running.

For Mariama Kouyate who captained the 'Elephants' at the 2019 edition of the tournament Dakar, Senegal, hope is the last thing to die. 

As teams await for FIBA's decision on the 2021 FIBA Women's AfroBasket Qualifiers, Kouyate keeps dreaming big. 

"THE OBJECTIVE OF COTE D'IVOIRE IS TO BE THE QUEENS OF AFRICA FOR ONCE."
- Kouyate

Cote d' Ivoire have made a total of 14 appearances at the tournament, but have had the agony of failing to go beyond the Semi-Finals in their best outing in 1977 and 2009 when they finished fourth place.

Looking back at the latest Women's AfroBasket in the Senegalese capital, where the Ivorians finished eighth, 32-year-old Kouyate shares the agony of her teammates, noting that they had their dreams of progressing beyond the Quarter-Finals stage but lost to Mali.

A 1.80m (6ft) forward, Kouyate who plays for Abidjan Basketball Club (ABC) in Cote d'Ivoire's National Championship, admitted to FIBA.basketball that there is a lot at stake at the Final Round of the 2021 Women's AfroBasket 2021.

She insists that human management and team preparation goes a long way to the success of any team.

"It's not easy to manage a team, especially a female team, but it's good being a good captain. The responsibility consists of having a listening ear as well as being able to keep the harmony within your group.

"I was able to manage my group simply by respecting my teammates, they knew that I was never going to leave them on the field, even when I was not there they had my full support.

"Cote d'Ivoire would like to reach the top of the AfroBasket 2021 but what we lack is the preparation before the Final Round. We always prepare late.

"You usually have a two-week preparation before going to competitions. There is no magic in sport, it's just a job that requires good coordination. "

"I KNOW FOR SURE THAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF A MEDAL PLACE THIS YEAR IF WE ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY."- Kouyate

The four-time AfroBasket participant who averaged 7.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in six games in the Senegal 2019 showdown, however, insists that the objective of every team is to be on the podium and above all to be champions.

"The objective of the Cote d'Ivoire is to be the queens of Africa for once," she stressed.

Though, Kouyate won't admit being the rallying point of the national team, she says that if she makes the team's final roster for this year's African Championship, she would do her best to keep the team closely knitted.

"I don't know about being a rallying point but if I am part of the workforce and I will do everything to go beyond the fourth-place."

Kouyate recalls her early days in the game and says that she started playing basketball in the CSA club, that is to say (Club Sportif D'Abidjan).

That she captains the national team is a different role for her but she would not carry the toga around. "My role in ABC is good. I am a player like everyone else really. When I am on the team I do not make a difference between me and my teammates because thanks to them I manage to express myself because one person alone can do nothing in a team sport especially in basketball. My role is to help the best I can to be the best."

Asked to imagine what the feeling would be for her should she lead her country to a medal place, she simply said: "No, I can't describe the feelings for now because that moment will unveil but actually I would be very happy.

"To be on the African podium for any player is an honor and an immense joy but for us to achieve this goal the factor against the national team especially at the female level needs to be addressed.

"I know for sure that we are capable of a medal place this year if we are taken seriously," she added.

FIBA