PARIS (France) - Head coach Vincent Collet has confirmed a list of 16 players selected to represent the French senior team in the first window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers.

France achieved a third-placed finish at the previous edition in China in 2019 and recently claimed a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with Andrew Albicy part of that 12-man roster. The 31-year-old  point guard  is returning as the most experienced member of this squad, with 74 caps. 

Amath M'Baye  also played at the 2019 World Cup and is one of six players in the squad to ply his trade at club level outside of France. Isaia Cordinier is another, having also played in every game of the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers campaign.

"After an Olympic campaign that will go down in history, we must all come back to earth and get back to work, as part of this new cycle. Before dreaming of Paris 2024, it is imperative that we maintain our level of performance in the various competitions that await us. With the help of my assistants and Boris Diaw we wanted to bring together the best possible team during this first qualifying window for the 2023 World Cup," commented Collet.

LDLC ASVEL trio Elie Okobo, William Howard and Paul Lacombe are included, as are Monaco guard Leo Westermann and Virtus Bologna center Mouhammadou Jaiteh with the duo both earning bronze medals at FIBA EuroBasket 2015.

17-year-old prospect Victor Wembanyama will train with the senior team alongside Hugo Benitez and Ismael Kamagate with preparations taking place in Pau.

France host Montenegro in their opening game on November 26, before traveling to face Hungary three days later.

FIBA