VICTORIA-GASTEIZ (Spain) - Matt Costello came, saw and conquered Cote d'Ivoire fans in a matter of just a few games.

Costello first witnessed the Ivorians' passion for the game when he first landed in Abidjan in the build-up to the 2021 FIBA AfroBasket held in Rwanda. The tournament ended up being a memorable event for Costello and the Cote d'Ivoire. 

In Kigali, Costello was so impactful that he was named to the 2021 AfroBasket All-Star team alongside Walter Tavares (Cape Verde), Gorgui Dieng (Senegal), and Tunisian duo of Makram Ben Romdhane and Omar Abada. 

Costello, who registered Ivory Coast's highest efficiency rate (24.7) and led the 'Elephants' with team-highs averages of 16.2 points and 9 rebounds, felt he could have done better, despite the fact that Cote d'voire reached the final for the first time since 2009 in Tripoli, Libya. 

And with the second round of Group C of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers set to be staged in July in Abidjan, the former NBA player says he can't wait to re-connect with Ivorians fans.

"I AM REALLY EXCITED TO GO AND PLAY IN FRONT OF THE FANS, FILL UP THE GYM AND GET EVERYTHING BACK TO A LITTLE NORMALCY...AND HOPEFULLY WE PUT ON A GOOD SHOW."Matt Costello

The former Michigan State University standout, who currently plays for Baskonia in Spain's ACB League, spared some time of his busy schedule to talk to FIBA.basketball. 

How do feel about the prospect of suiting up for the Elephants again since September 2021 at AfroBasket in Kigali? 

Super excited. We haven't played [in Abidjan] besides of a friendly game. Last year we were unable to play that many games in Abidjan. So to be able to play a game that matters in front of our fans is going to be really fun and exciting. 

As a naturalised player, what's your experience of playing for Cote d'Ivoire been like so far?

It was surprising for me. I didn't realise how many good players are coming out of Africa and Cote d'Ivoire specifically. Playing at AfroBasket and been given the opportunity to compete with these guys was an eye-opening for me. It was toughness, my body was hurting afterwards but, it was very enjoyable.

You didn't play in the first window of the World Cup African Qualifiers in Angola. Supposedly you have followed your national team's game in Angola.

I wasn't able to go [Window 1 of the African Qualifiers in November 2021 in Benguela], but I was following the team in the group chat with the guys. They did really well. They've gone 3-0, and it put us in a really good position moving forward. We have good opportunities moving forward in the qualifiers.

This is probably one of the most talented Cote d'Ivoire teams in years. Cote d'Ivoire has has lost only one game in Africa [loss to Tunisia in the AfroBasket final] in the last two years. It's also probably their best moment in the last ten years. What do you think is behind this team’s success and progress? 

It's a combination of things to me. You have the older players who can give some stability to the program and expectations of how the program should run and how the players should act. As you saw in the last window, a bunch of young guys played really, really well. That was the support of the stability of the older guys. [Team Manager] Carlo [Viera] has done a good job of putting the team together, but I also think Natxo [Lezcano] has done a really good job of coaching, understanding people's strengths and weaknesses and trying to play through that. 
Going back to what I was surprised in AfroBasket, is just how hard defensively these guys play together. And this is a lot to say about Natxo and his coaching style.

 
Cote d'Ivoire reached the AfroBasket final undefeated in five games after beating continental powerhouse Senegal in the Semi-Finals. What do attribute to the 78-75 defeat to Tunisia in the final?

Honestly, I have to blame myself quite a bit on the last game. Really disappointed. I got pretty tired at the end, I missed some shots that normally go down for me. We only ended up losing by three. I feel like if a couple of those shots would have gone down we would have been champions, which is frustrating to say. Truly it's how I feel. I feel like I let the team down that day. 

As an individual and a key member of the Ivorian national team, what lessons have you taken from the 2021 AfroBasket?

Just being mentally prepared for the length of time. I was away from home without my family for six or seven weeks, with the training and, we competed for another two and half weeks in Rwanda. It was just a very long time. I knew it before how long I was going to be away, but towards the end you start to go a little crazy, and with the COVID stuff, and all the regulations, it was tiring. Just need to be more mentally prepared the next time as far as the endurance of the long call.

You are now playing in the ACB in Spain, after a brief NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs. Now there is this opportunity of playing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. What goes through your mind when you think about the prospect of playing in such a big stage with this Cote d'Ivoire team?

That would be amazing. That's the goal right now, and that's why we are competing so hard in these windows. I know they were able to do it the last time [2019]. Just put ourselves in a good position when we go there. It's literally why we're playing. 

What's your basketball career been like since you finished your college career with Michigan State University?

It's been a lot of ups and downs. I came out with the hope in me of making it to the NBA, and I got a few shots at it.

Do you still have that NBA fire/dream in you?

I do. If someone is willing to give me a chance I would love to go back and play in front of family, playing in that league. But if I'm constantly saying ‘I wanna go, I wanna go’, I think I lose the opportunity to enjoy what I have here. I am really trying to focus where I am at, and trying to be the best basketball player I can in the ACB and EuroLeague. Again, if I play good enough for someone to come across my front door and says ‘Hey we’ll give you an [NBA] offer,’ I would love to go back. Mentally, I am in Europe and I signed a long-term deal here [Baskonia]. As far as my career, you got those opportunities back home I didn't capitalise on them for whatever reason, whether injury or poor playing on my part. And coming over here, got injured in my first year in Italy as well, and I really didn't know of how to continue to play basketball.
I had a lot of hard conversations with my wife - I was 24 or 25 at that point -. It was like like three years in a row of bad injuries. But we gave one more try, and that's how we ended up in Gran Canaria. After that year I stayed relatively healthy and things have gone well. 

Had you visited Africa before your arrival in Abidjan last year?

No, I had not. It was my first time, and we toured all over the place. From Abidjan we travelled to Tunisia, and then, Rwanda. You see in the map how big Africa is. You go there, and it’s like, wow, the flights are like 10 hours long. 

Cote d'Ivoire beat Angola, Central African Republic and Guinea in the first window of the African Qualifiers. What's your take on those Group C teams that you'll face in Abidjan in July?

We played Guinea quite a bit in the preparations [for the AfroBasket] and in the competition. We know them fairly well as far as their strengths and weakness are.
The Angolan team is always so physical, and defensive-minded, and we really need to come prepared for that game. Honestly, like you said earlier, this is one of the best team we have in a while. If we come with the right mentality I think we have the chance to win all three games.

Cote d'Ivoire fans are some of the most enthusiasts in African basketball scene. What are expectations of playing your first official home game in Abidjan?

Because we couldn't have so many fans in Rwanda with travel restrictions and stuff, you saw a group of people there and they were very loud and very crazy. My phone was blowing up with Cote d'Ivoire fans' support, trying to cheer us on. And I am like, 'This is just my phone I can't imagine in person.' I am really excited to go and play in front of the fans, fill up the gym and get everything back to a little of normalcy, but it's going to be fun playing in front of them. I have high expectations for everybody coming out, and hopefully we put on a good show. 

FIBA