YAOUNDE (Cameroon) – Cote d'Ivoire's basketball legend Stephane Konate has called time on his playing career.

Konate is quitting not being able to fulfil his ambition of playing in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) for a second time after helping ABC Fighters reach the Quarter-Finals earlier this year in Kigali.

His bid for a second BAL appearance came to an abrupt end on Thursday night at the Paposy Arena in Yaounde when Bangui Sporting Club defeated ABC Fighters 83-70 in the last game of Group B of the West Division Elite 16 in which the Ivorian champions were eliminated.

Stephane Konate is seen in action on November 2, 2023, whcih marked his last professional game

While it was all tears for many of the young players on the night, Konate looked back at his career and wore a smile that left many wondering if the loss didn't hurt him.

Konate ended the Elite 16 qualifier with an accumulated 50 minutes scoring 20 points in three games.

He told FIBA.basketball that it was a big disappointment for him and his team. "When you win, you give thanks to God and when you lose, you do the same. Basketball is a game in which you win or lose and such is life. It's a lesson both ways and I take this like a good thing because we learn from our mistakes"

Stephane Konate (15)

Asked if the turn of the table for ABC is disappointing, Konate replied thus: "I will say yes because we didn't have enough time to prepare for this Elite 16 stage. Little details make a lot of difference. Bangui fixed the little details, but we did not and we lost. That's disappointing."

On what is the next step for Konate, his response was simple and straight. "At 43 years, I think it's over for me. I am done playing for both the national team and at club levels. I am satisfied with the achievements I made playing the game and it gladdens me that people refer to me as an African legend. I will look at other opportunities and decide what next is for me. I don't know if it will be in coaching or management but as for playing, it's over," he said with a level of finality in his voice.

Konate was born on August 23, 1980, and hails from Bouake. The 1.92m (6ft 4in) shooting guard has been a member of the Ivorian national basketball team since 2003 and played in Spain for Palencia Baloncesto, in Morocco for the ASE Essaouira team and in Egypt for the Gezira sporting club team to mention a few.

Stephane Konate played a major role in helping Cote d'Ivoire qualify for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup

He was the African vice-champion twice (2009 and 2021) in Libya and Kigali, and took part in the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Turkey.

Considered one of the pillars of Ivorian basketball, Konate won 16 Cote d'Ivoire national championship titles with his club Abidjan Basket Club and one Egyptian champion title with the Gezira Sporting Club in Cairo.

He was voted MVP of the 2005 edition of the FIBA Africa Champions Cup and top scorer during the 2014 edition at 34.

FIBA