Cote d'Ivoire confirm Occansey as head coach for AfroBasket 2015

ABIDJAN (AfroBasket 2015) - Frenchman Hugues Occansey will be the head coach of Cote d'Ivoire at AfroBasket 2015, the country's Basketball Federation (FIBB) confirmed on Tuesday.

The 48-year-old tactician replaces Spanish Natxo Lezkano, who led the "Elephants" to a fourth-place finish at AfroBasket 2013, and will be assisted by Olivier Tea, who served as interim coach during the qualifiers against Benin.

Occansey, a former French international, is expected to hold his first two-week training camp with a 28-player preliminary squad from 10 July in the capital city of Abidjan.

This is the second coaching experience for Occansey with Cote d'Ivoire as he was an assistant coach of the men's national team at AfroBasket 2007 in Angola.

During his playing career, Occansey starred for France on a number of occasions.

At the 1992 European Olympic Qualifying Tournament, he led the French side with 19.6 points per game.

He has coached several French clubs including CSP Limoges, a team he played for from 1995-1998.

According to the FIBB, Cote d'Ivoire expect to face Mali in African soil, before traveling to France for the remainder of their AfroBasket preparations.

Once on French soil, Occansey's side are due to face teams preparing for the upcoming EuroBasket 2015.

The Ivorians have high expectations for the continental championship taking place in Tunis and Nabeul, Tunisia (19-30 August), especially after a disappointing campaign in front of their home fans two years.

AfroBasket 2015 serves as a qualifier for the 2016 Rio Games.

The winner of the African championship will secure direct qualification for the Olympics, while the teams that finish second and third will book places in the 12-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Cote d'Ivoire last won a continental title in 1985, and will open their AfroBasket 2015 campaign facing Algeria, Cape Verde and Zimbabwe in Group D.

FIBA