Cote d'Ivoire veteran leader Diabate: ''Our goal is to reach the Second Round''

LUANDA (Angola) - Souleyman Diabate will be the undisputed veteran leader for Cote d'Ivoire at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, and the guard is ready to use his experience to help his country reach the Second Round.

Cote d'Ivoire are playing in the World Cup for the third time in the last four editions with Diabate playing on the global stage for a third time after 2010 and 2019. The playmaker was just 23 years old when he played in Turkey. He got injured in the first game, but continued to play and ended up averaging 9.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists.

Diabate at the 2010 World Cup

"I was a young player at the time. I wanted to shine. I wanted to show everybody that I can play at the international level against big teams and big players," said Diabate, who had helped the Elephants reach their first World Cup since back-to-back appearances in 1982 and 1986.

The lessons he learned in Turkey helped him see things differently in the long term.

"I realised that I had a lot work to do; be focused all the time. I learned that international basketball demands a lot of work," he said.

Diabate answering the call for the 2019 World Cup at 32 years old

Diabate has always answered the call for his home country. In addition to playing in two World Cups, he competed at eight FIBA AfroBaskets and appeared in 21 of the 24 games in the African Qualifiers for the 2019 and 2023 World Cups. 

 "Every time I go to the national team I have fun. I meet guys that I don't see during the season. It's a great atmosphere. I like playing for my national team," Diabate said.

The motivation to play for his country remains high, adding: "Just to represent the country among the 10, 12 best players of Cote d'Ivoire is great for me. I represent the country, my family name … For me, I am proud. Where I am from, it's unbelievable to be at this level."

Diabate has not however experienced much winning at the World Cup, grabbing solely a victory over Puerto Rico in 2010 for a 1-4 record before going 0-5 at China 2019. The Africans are not heading to Asia this summer to just make up the numbers as they will face Spain, Iran and Brazil in Group G in Jakarta.

"Our goal is to advance to the Second Round," he said.

 

The Elephants will be bouyed by an excellent showing at the African Qualifiers, where they won 10 of 12 games.

"The atmosphere within the team was great and we had a good balance between young players and veterans. The goal was the same for everybody: Team first, nobody is above of the team, and we also had a good coaching staff," Diabate said.

Now it's time to see if Cote d'Ivoire can show it on the world stage. Souleyman Diabate's experience will definitely be a major help.

FIBA