ABC Fighters highly optimistic for Elite 16 campaign

ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - During the 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season, ABC Fighters were involved in one of the most enthralling games of the tournament.

That storming Quarter-Finals encounter won 88-84 by Angolan powerhouse Petro de Luanda was just the inspiration the Ivorian giants needed going into the BAL fourth season.

The breathe-taking clash between two former African Champions was dubbed as probably one of the best games of the league - alongside with another epic battle between Al Ahly and Petro de Luanda.

The obvious question remains, Can ABC pick it up from there and go a step further this time round?

The Ivorian champions are highly optimistic that the time to make the long awaited breakthrough in the BAL season 4 is now.

But for ABC to even think of bagging the top prize in Africa’s premier club competition, they must first navigate their way past seasoned campaigners.

The barriers in the Group B Elite 16 West Division contest that tips off October 31 - November 3 are FUS Rabat of Morocco, Seydou Legacy Athletique Club (SLAC) of the Guinea and Bangui Sporting Club of Republic Central African. 

And the man entrusted with the task of guiding the team to the promised land is a respectable Swiss tactician in Nikolic Milutin.

ABC have in their lineup good players led by Stephane Konate, Alvarez Westbrook and Kra Ulrich Mohamed to bank on.

They also have a number of good recruits including internationals Samba Dieng and Adjehi Baru who can shake with the best.

With Milutin calling the plays from the sides, the ABC camp highly believe the fortunes of the team will be forever changed. ABC are going for nothing short of gold.

ABC, who are 17-time Ivorian champions, have undergone two months intense training for the competition and their set weapon remains their fighting spirit.

They remain one of the top teams in the continent that has yet to break the ice at the BAL and they are convinced they are going all out to change that narrative.

And the venue to make this bold step is non other than the Multipurpose Sports Palace in Yaounde Cameroon.

ABC Fighters entered the Elite 16 round by virtue of qualifying to the BAL Season 3

There is little doubt that ABC remain one of the continent's elite teams but a podium finish that underlines the effort has always been lacking.

Can ABC Fighters, the most successful club in Ivory Coast history with many titles in the bag including a continental crown in 2005, go one better?

When the dust finally settles on November 4, will ABC Fighters be one of the teams who will book their flight to the next stage of the tournament?

Time will tell.

FIBA