FOS-SUR-MER (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - The last time Charles Abouo featured at a FIBA Basketball World Cup, he returned home with a sense of unfinished business. Now, the Cote d'Ivoire international hopes to return to the world stage better and stronger.

Eight years ago, the 6ft 5in (1.96m) small forward sparked his Cote d'Ivoire national team to a game-high 19 points in an 88-79 win over Puerto Rico on the last day of the Group Phase in Ankara, Turkey. Despite their best efforts, the West Africans fell short in their bid to advance to the Final Phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2010 as they needed a 12-point margin of victory to progress to Istanbul.

"IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE [PLAYING FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM] AGAIN. ANY TIME YOU CAN DO IT, IT MAKES YOU PROUD TO WEAR YOU COUNTRY'S COLORS AND BE AROUND THOSE GUYS WHO ARE LIKE BROTHERS. IT'S A GREAT FEELING" - Abouo

So when the chance to help his country do battle for one of the five tickets on offer for African nations to next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup in China emerged, the 28-year-old felt it was the right moment to make a difference for Cote d'Ivoire.

So much so that as the "Elephants" took on hosts Mozambique, the Central African Republic (CAF) and Senegal in the first-leg of Group D of African Qualifiers in February, the former Brigham Young University standout came up with some of his best performances, inspiring Cote d'Ivoire with team-highs of 14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

And while Paolo Povia's men lost to Mozambique and CAF, a 67-60 victory over continental heavyweights Senegal lifted the team's morale ahead of the third window of the African Qualifiers in June-July in Dakar, Senegal.

Talking to FIBA.basketball, the Cocody native explained the reasons why he won't rest until Cote d'Ivoire return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010.

"Playing in the World Cup is a great experience. It's definitely one of the best things you could do as a basketball player," he recalled. "2010 was a great experience for our group, and it’s something we would like to definitely do it again."

Abouo in action against Puerto Rico at the World Cup in 2010

How exactly can Cote d'Ivoire reverse a 1-2 mark and secure one of Group D's three tickets to be among the 12 teams advancing to the Second Round of the African Qualifiers? Abouo admits that while Cote d'Ivoire didn't have the best start, he is adamant they are going to have a great turn-around in June to advance from the First Round.

"We have to do a little better as far as our decision-making. We have to find a little bit more chemistry. It's hard because you don't really have that much time together and in this tournament every team plays hard, every team wants to win.

"We have to shoot the ball better, we have to execute more efficiently what the coach wants us to do. If we do those things I think we could be very successful.  We lost some close games, it comes down to little things. We have a good coaching staff, it comes down to us," Abouo pointed out.

Back in 2013, Cote d'Ivoire assembled one of their most talented group players although they finished in fourth place as hosts of FIBA AfroBasket. But most of those players they have since missed out successive international tournaments.

Nevertheless, Abouo - who also featured for his country for the first time in five years - insists some of them may be gearing for a return in June. 

"I talked to some of those guys, and the window this summer is a little easier for guys to participate," said the man who currently leads France's PRO B side Fos Provence Basket in scoring with averages of 12.9 points per game. 

"It was great [to be back]. In 2015 [FIBA AfroBasket], I didn't play because of an injury. In 2017, there was a tournament right before the season."

"It's great to have that experience [playing for the national team] again. Any time you can do it, it makes you proud to wear those colors of your country and be around those guys who are like brothers, it’s a great feeling."

FIBA