KIGALI (Rwanda) - Matt Costello is one of the many players that made their African basketball debut at the ongoing FIBA AfroBasket 2021, which is celebrating its 30th edition.  

Players and coaches from all over the world have added a new flavour and style of play to the FIBA Africa's flagship tournament in Kigali, Rwanda. 

One of of such players is Cote D'Ivoire dependable Matthew Costello of the Baskonia SAD Basketball in Spain's ACB League.

"OUR TARGET AS A TEAM IS TO LIFT THE TROPHY LAST WON BY OUR COUNTRY IN 1985, AND I WILL ALWAYS MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE TOURNAMENTS."- Matt Costello

Born and raised in Michigan, United States of America, 28-year-old power forward has been huge for the 'Elephants'.

The 2.08m (6ft 10in) has averaged team-highs 19 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and two blocks per game. 

Costello has been an all-around player for Cote d'Ivoire, who advanced to the Quarter-Finals of AfroBasket for the first time since his adoptive country reached the Semi-Finals in 2013. 

Matt Costello

Costello stopped by to talk to FIBA.basketball about his new basketball experience.

"I feel happy with the team especially the players who have accepted me as one of them, the coaching staff are tremendous while the federation has been very supportive that we succeed in our quest to return Cote D'Ivoire as a force to reckoned with in Africa basketball," said the man who filled in the naturalised player spot of the 'Elephants'. 

Cote d'Ivoire have beaten Kenya, Nigeria and Mali to advance automatically to the Quarter-Finals. 

Costello admits that it has been quite a challenge: "Though I enjoyed every moment with the team, but I must confess that AfroBasket is one of the toughest competition I've ever played in my career. The Championship is very physical but with great talents on offer by every countries."

For those unfamiliar with Costello's career, the 28-year-old explained that "Basketball started as fun when I was a kid playing with my mates in the city of Michigan's open courts but as time progressed I felt in love with the sport and decided to take it as a career. The sport has taken me to several places and continents."

Although Costello currently plays professionally in Spain, he has briefly played for the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA.

"I have plied my professional career in America, Europe and now with the Ivorian national team," he recalled.

The 16-nation AfroBasket lasts for approximately two weeks, but national teams usually spend weeks in preparation before they depart for the stage of the competition. For some, this is quite a burden.

Costello explained his own experience: "My most difficult challenge I have ever faced in my career is leaving my wife to-be by the family alone most times and I want to say a very big thank you to her for her resilience and understanding in holding forth in my absence."

The winners of the 1985 African Championship Cote d'Ivoire look really competitive this time around.

After closing their Qualifiers campaign with a 6-0 mark, the Ivorians remained undefeated ahed of the Quarter-Finals, making it a 9-0 winning streak in the AfroBasket 2021 process so far.

"Our target as a team is to lift the trophy last won by our country in 1985 and I will always make myself available for future tournaments," Costello said.

FIBA