DAKAR (Senegal) - Rightfully, Côte d'Ivoire head coach Miguel Ramos would rather praise his team's collective effort than single out one particular individual. However, what David Gassaud came up with on Saturday was an MVP-caliber performance.
Coming off the bench, Gassaud gave his all, making two out of three three-point attempts, contesting his direct opponent's attempts to score and ultimately lifting Côte d'Ivoire to a 72-66 win over Egypt.
Abderahman Mohamed 'Mido' led Egypt with 16 points, but the Pharaohs's poor free-throw shooting (9-for-23) proved costly. The loss saw Egypt drop to 4-4.
Relatively unknown in the African basketball scene until his debut in the 2027 African Qualifiers in July, the 25year-old Gassaud proved vital for the Elephants with his team-high 16 points.
NBA champion Pacome Dadiet propelled the Ivorians with 13 points in the first half as they led 34-32, but it was Gassaud - and the support of veteran Jean Philippe Dally - who turned things around in the second.
"I don't really like praising a player's effort over the collective," said Coach Ramos.
This was Gassaud's fifth game with the Ivorian jersey on.
How special was it for Gassaud to help Côte d'Ivoire to improve to 7-1 in the African Qualifiers?
"Special", he said.
"We keep playing with heart – that’s what has been fundamental for us. Intensity and never giving up in adversity are all part of our team identity," Gassaud noted.
The Ivorians are currently 7-1 with four games left in the 2027 African Qualifiers campaign.
Gassaud, who rarely voices his opinion among the veterans he watched growing up, insists that they still have a long way to go to secure one of the five places available to African teams at the 2027 Qatar World Cup.
"We are not happy just yet. We are, of course, proud of our progress, but we still have a long way to go to reach our target. We are taking one game at a time."
He went on acknowledging that "[The World Cup] It’s one of the biggest stages in basketball and one of my biggest motivations in these qualifiers. Who wouldn't want to play in the World Cup?"
For Gassaud, being a valuable member of the Elephants is more than a personal achievement, he pointed out.
"I started playing basketball quite late, at the age of 12, which was two years after I moved to France. Growing up, I wasn’t the biggest, the tallest or the most talented player, but I knew that with hard work, I could still make it.
"When the opportunity to represent the national team arose, it was a proud moment for my family. Seeing my family celebrate my first call-up to the national team meant the world to me. The only way I can repay them is by playing my best and giving my all every time I am on the court."
Côte d'Ivoire return to action on Sunday to take on Angola, while Egypt will go up against the DR Congo.
FIBA