PARIS (France) - Cote d'Ivoire may not resume their FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers campaign until February but team captain Guy Edi says the time to commence preparation is now.

The 31-year-old returned to the 'Elephants' during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers in early 2018 after sitting out the AfroBasket 2015.

With two AfroBasket titles (1981 and 1985) under their belts, Edi is confident that Cote d'Ivoire can return to the podium at next year's African Championship, and therefore Qualifiers in February must see the players at their very best.

"OUR TARGET AT THE QUALIFIERS IS TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS, GET BETTER AND ADVANCE. 
- Guy Edi

Edi told FIBA.basketball that he feels honoured to have led his country as captain of the national team at last year's FIBA Basketball World Cup in China and admits that his team learnt valuable lessons that would help them in future competitions.

Cote d'Ivoire currently lead Group A thanks to three wins in as many games.

The 1.99m (6ft 6in) small forward is upbeat that the 'Elephants' will secure a ticket in the February window but he is surely not taking anything for granted.

"We're aware that the first three teams will qualify for the Final Round and we'll give our best to ensure that we punch that ticket. We feel good about the changes that we have witnessed as a team and the experience we have gained will go a long way for us. I really believe we can make history happen but we also know that it won’t be an easy ride because lots of teams are much hungrier," Edi said.

In spite of the confidence that Edi exudes, he admits that his team will not be favourites and as such, they would take it one game at a time.

"Our target at the Qualifiers is to take care of business, get better and advance. Cameroon is a very talented team but we were better on their court and this time around they would come back stronger to prove a point. Same would be the case with Guinea and Equatorial Guinea," he stated.

While the former Gonzaga University standout hopes for FIBA to take all precautionary measures to make the venue convenient and safe in view of the coronavirus pandemic, he believes players would be ready to participate and notes that he wants to finish his career on a high.

"Of course winning the AfroBasket title would be great because I would love to finish my career with that crown and head to the Olympics in Paris 2024. It would be simply amazing. I believe that as a team we can remain focused and with the same energy achieve like we did going to the World Cup in China," he said.

On how he has been keeping fit, he says his area of abode in Paris is spacious which gives him a lot of room to run and exercise to keep fit. "A lot is expected of us and I hope we give our best to keep our profile on the rise of African basketball because it is our goal to be there again."

Edi notes that the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 would be an exciting one for him and his teammates as they would be far away from the attention of home fans and family pressures.

"In 2013 when Cote d'Ivoire played host, we had no issues but I personally think that if we're playing outside the country and we're in a bubble away from families and distractions, we would have probably beaten Angola (in the Semi-Final).

"I can tell you that we had our worst game against Angola and yet lost by 7 points. We had a great team and a good coach but it's never easy winning at home as host. Take what happened to Brazil in the soccer World Cup in 2014. Such was the pressure we faced," he concluded.

The Final Round of the FIBA Basketball 2021 will take place in Kigali, Rwanda.

FIBA