ABIDJAN (Côte d'Ivoire) -The last time fans of Côte d'Ivoire's Elephants heard the trumpets of AfroBasket victory was four decades ago in their capital city, Abidjan.
Since 1985, they have come closest to the title with two runner-up finishes, in 2009 and 2021.
Could this year's tournament be a turning point for the Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire?
As one of the strongest basketball nations in Africa, Côte d'Ivoire is among the contenders.
They aim to win their third AfroBasket trophy in the upcoming tournament in Angola from August 12th to 24th.
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2nd (Africa), 31 (Africa)
The Elephants, two-time African champions (1981 and 1985), are a team with pedigree, having made four more AfroBasket finals on either side of their title wins in 1978, 1980, 2009 and 2021.
Road to Angola
The Ivorians had an easy time cruising through their campaign and earning their 25th AfroBasket passport. They finished the qualifiers undefeated with a perfect 6-0 record.
On their way to winning their qualifying group, the Elephants achieved notable victories over Egypt, first in Cairo (79-76) and then in Antananarivo, Madagascar (82-76).
AfroBasket History
After securing their second AfroBasket title in 1985, following their first victory in 1981, the Elephants found themselves competing in the lowly classification rounds.
It took a generation led by point guard Solo Diabaté, who was born two years after Côte d'Ivoire's last AfroBasket triumph, to regain their competitive edge.
Finals appearances in 2009 and fourth-place finishes in 2011 and 2013 demonstrated their consistent performance.
Eight years later, the Elephants made a sixth AfroBasket finals appearance in 2021, and this year, they will strive for more than just a close call.
Coaching Staff
Spanish coach Miguel Ramos led Côte d'Ivoire to a successful qualification for the AfroBasket tournament.
The 51-year-old has worked in Spain, Turkey, Denmark, and Equatorial Guinea, where he won league and cup titles with Malabo Kings in 2013.
Stephane Konate, an Ivorian basketball legend who led Juenesse Club d'Abidjan to the domestic league and cup titles last season, will continue in his role as assistant coach at the AfroBasket.
Key Players
A history of success has led to a steady stream of talent suiting up for Côte d'Ivoire.
American-born big man Matt Costello was part of the team that won silver in 2021.
In the qualifiers, he delivered.
He averaged 15.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. An all-around scoring threat for the Ivorians, Costello is a 57.1% (8/14) three-point shooter and a 56.3% (9/16) two-point shooter.
Shooting guard Nisre Zouzoua is another player from the 2021 team who could be key to the Ivorians' title hopes this year.
Zouzoua had standout performances against the Central African Republic (19 points) and Egypt (20 points) during the final qualifying window.
The sharp shooter averaged 45.7% (16/35) from three-point range, and he scored 9 out of 10 free throws during the qualifiers.
Solo Diabate
Although the legend is in the twilight of his career, he can still have an impact on the Elephants. The 38-year-old point guard is a valuable asset to the team. If the pressure is on, his experience will be an asset.
Outlook
Côte d'Ivoire has demonstrated consistency over the years.
Another necessary aspect is maturity, which comes with experience.
If the Elephants apply the lessons they learned from the last AfroBasket, they have a good chance of winning the title.
FIBA