ABIDJAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - Almost six years on, and Herve Lamizana has agreed to wear Cote d'Ivoire's jersey again.

As the 'Elephants' prepare to host the final window of this year's FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers from February 22-24 in Abidjan, they are making sure to assemble their best group of players.

"THE GOOD THING ABOUT ALL THIS PROCESS [OF HOSTING WINDOW 6 OF THE QUALIFIERS] IS THAT EVERYBODY ON OUR TEAM, INCLUDING LAMIZANA, ARE HIGHLY-MOTIVATED FOR THESE THREE GAMES"
- Povia

And when head coach Paolo Povia was made aware of Lamizana's availability he welcomed the news.

"He's a hardworking player, he is willing and happy to play for us again," Povia revealed to FIBA.basketball.

The last time the 6ft10in (2.08m) power forward wore the Ivorian jersey he inspired his country in his native Abidjan with team-highs 10 points and 6 rebounds at FIBA AfroBasket 2013.

"We'll keep most of the team that featured in window 4 of the qualifiers in Nigeria, but we'll add Lamizana and one or two more players," Povia added.

Paolo Povia

But Povia wasn't the only one to welcome Lamizana's return, Souleymane Diabate - a key member of the Ivorians in recent years - recalled the importance of having the 38 year-old.

"He's experienced, he has given a lot to us in the past, and in a situation we are now, we need his skills to help us winning as many games as possible."

In order to secure one of the two tickets still on offer for African teams for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China, Cote d'Ivoire not only must win all three games against Nigeria, Rwanda and Mali, but they have to excel to claim the best third-placed spot in the African Qualifiers.

Cote d'Ivoire would secure a spot in the World Cup as the second-placed team in Group F if they win their last three games and Senegal lose their last three games.

They can also qualify as the best-ranked third-placed team if they win their last three games with a combined margin of at least 65 or 66 points, depending on the number of goals scored (65 if they score over 294 points, 66 points if they score under 294).

"It is not going to be an easy ride, we all know that," Povia admitted, adding: "My players and the Federation are working together to achieve what some describe as an impossible mission."

"The good thing about all this process is that everybody, including Lamizana, are highly motivated for these three games."

When asked about the qualifiers in Abidjan, Mohamed Kone one of the 'Elephants' most experienced replied: "We'll be ready for the challenge."

According to Povia, the Ivorian Basketball Federation and the team's General Manager Ismael N'diaye are putting together a preparation plan to open a training a week or ten days before the six-team qualifiers.

FIBA