ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - Stephane Konate is confident that he can still make a different for the 'Elephants' of Cote d'Ivoire.

In what is expected to be his first appearance with his country's uniform since 2015, the 39-year-old small forward looks at this week's FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in Yaounde as an opportunity to prove that his five-year absence from the national team was a "see you soon" rather than a "good bye". 

"WITHOUT WANTING TO UNDERESTIMATE OTHER TEAMS, I THINK CAMEROON IS THE TOUGHEST OPPONENT ESPECIALLY AS THEY PLAY AT HOME. COTE D'IVOIRE VS CAMEROON WILL BE THE FINAL OF THIS GROUP."-Stephen Konate

And all he aims to do in Yaounde is to help Cote d'Ivoire secure one of the three tickets for the final round next year in Kigali, Rwanda.

In Yaounde, the 'Elephants' will go up against hosts Cameroon, Guinea and Equatorial Guinea from Friday, February 21 until Sunday, 23rd in the first-leg of the Qualifiers.

If the Ivorians do advance to FIBA Africa's major tournament, as the 1.92m (6 ft 3 in) hopes, it will be their 21st  straight appearance in the history of the tournament dating back to 1978.

"We are going to Yaounde with the hope of winning as many games as possible," Konate told FIBA.basketball.

However, Konate admits that the four-team tournament will be challenging as they have little time to prepare. "We are lucky to have a group of players who know each other well."

Konate's return to the national team coincides with the return of head coach Natxo Lezkano, who last led the Ivoirians at FIBA AfroBasket 2013 in Abidjan, where they finished fourth.

"We have a coach who knows the mentality of most of the players. [And] we're going to sweat for our country."

Known for his athleticism and speed to attack the basket, Konate spent the past few seasons playing for Abidjan Basket Club, and in his last  continental showing he led his team in scoring in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers with averages of 19.7 points, six rebounds and three assists although ABC fell short to progress to the Regular Season.

"It is a great pleasure for me to return to the national team," he stressed, adding that playing in the BAL's Qualifiers allowed him to keep in shape. "I posted some pretty good numbers. Hopefully I can do the same in the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers."

Asked to assess Cote d'Ivoire's opponents, Konate replied. "Without wanting to underestimate other teams, I think Cameroon is the toughest opponent especially as they will play at home. Cote d’Ivoire vs Cameroon will be the final of this group."

The Qualifiers in Yaounde - the first window of the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers process - marks the Ivoirians' first international competition since last year's FIBA Basketball World Cup in China. 

FIBA