LEEDS (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - Two-time African champions, Cote d'Ivoire seem to be on the right path to return to their glory days. At least that is what they showed last week.

Cote d'Ivoire's debacle started seven years ago when they finished a disappointing fourth place as hosts of the FIBA AfroBasket 2013, even though they displayed a lineup that included some of the best talents in Africa.

After that tournament, the Ivorians' future seemed bleaker than ever, especially because of some reported disagreements between players and basketball shareholders in the West African country. Key players like Guy Edi, Charles Abouo and Mohamed Kone never wore the uniform of the Elephants again until early 2018. 

And to make matters worse, the Ivorian decline was confirmed as they recorded their worst FIBA AfroBasket results after finishing 12th (2015) and 14th (2017), respectively.

However, over the weekend, Cote d'Ivoire beat Guinea, Equatorial Guinea and hosts Cameroon to start their FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers campaign with authority.

It was a breath of fresh air watching a Cote d'Ivoire team play with energy, joy, determination and desperation to win. 

The three Ivorian wins in as many games in Yaounde came on the back of three straight wins from February 2019 when they upset Nigeria, Mali and Rwanda in the last qualifying window for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019. 

So, as I write this column, Cote d'Ivoire are on six-game winning streak in major African tournaments over the last 12 months (FIBA AfroCan not included), perhaps that's a good indication to justify their No.5 position in the FIBA World Rankings (Africa).

You might be asking, what has changed for the Ivorians to suddenly be back in form?

Well, having almost half of the team that featured at FIBA Basketball World Cup last year was a sign that Cote d'Ivoire seem desperate to return to the era that saw them win the African Championship in 1981 and 1985.

The returns of head coach Naxto Lezkano, small forward Stephen Konate - who had last played for his country in the Qualifiers for the 2015 African Championship - and the addition of Deon Thompson came as an added bonus for the Elephants. 

Players and the new Cote d'Ivoire Basketball Federation board appear to be speaking the same language, which is a sigh of relief in the African basketball landscape. 

In the Cameroonian capital of Yaounde, the Elephants roared and sent a statement, a loud and clear message to Africa: "We are back."

Welcome back, Cote d'Ivoire!

As I mentioned, 39-year-old Stephen Konate was a key factor for the Ivorian campaign in Yaounde, and if he stays healthy, he surely is one of the players to watch in the entire FIBA AfroBasket Qualifiers process.

The Ivorians won't resume their qualifying campaign until February 2021, but what I saw from last week's action in Yaounde makes me believe that they are for real. They are realistic contenders not only to secure one of the three tickets on offer in Group C for the Final Round in Kigali, but maybe to go all the way to last four in the tournament. It's just a matter keeping their moment going.

Julio Chitunda
FIBA

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