TEAM PROFILE: Cote d'Ivoire eager to improve Women's AfroBasket record

 

ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - Cote d'Ivoire are headed to the 2023 FIBA Women's AfroBasket in Kigali, Rwanda with a vision to better their record in the championship.

In the history of this West African nation, their best performance has not taken them to the podium and this is certainly an aspect that they want to attain at this stage.

In their 15th appearance in the championship, the Ivorians will certainly want to make this one count given that their predecessors had tried in the past but could only finish in fourth place twice.

Team: Cote d'Ivoire

Ranking: 54th in the world; 8th in Africa

Last participation in Women's AfroBasket: 2021

Best result at the Women's AfroBasket: Cote d'Ivoire have finished fourth twice in 1977 and 2009 respectively.

How they qualified for the 2023 AfroBasket: Cote d'Ivoire qualified for the 2023 FIBA Women's AfroBasket after beating Guinea 98-48 in the second of a two-game series played at the Palais des sport de Treichville in Abidjan. The Ivorians closed the series with a 179-101 win on aggregate.

Africa: Cote d’Ivoire have competed in 14 continental championships with the 2023 edition going to make it the 15th.

2023 Women's AfroBasket Group: Cote d'Ivoire is placed in Group A alongside hosts Rwanda and former African champions Angola.

Djefarima Diawara

Star Players: Cote d'Ivoire can count on players like Djefarima Diawara, who finished the two-team Qualifiers with 26 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists.

And Zeinabou Sieza finished the second game with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds with an overall contribution of 21 points, 22 rebounds and 5 assists.

Bognini Irene, who returned after a four-year absence due to injury, was came in the qualifiers scoring a total of 31 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists.

Zoran Visic (left)

Coach: Zoran Visic is eager to make an impact with the team and is leaving no stone unturned to achieve his goals. Visic and the Cote d'Ivoire Basketball Federation (FIBB) agreed that the Serbian will take on the management of the Training and Youth division of the Technical Directorate to achieve the federation's strategic development objectives.

With a wealth of experience, Visic will be assisted by Joskan Agrikola from CSA Treichville in Cote d'Ivoire and Krissy Bade, a former French international player of Ivorian origin. 

A team of experts will accompany the Serbian technician in his first experience on the bench of a women's national team on the African continent.

Before joining Cote d'Ivoire, Visic was the head coach of India women's national team.

He won the gold medal at the 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup – Division B. 

Outlook: A combination of the old and young players for Cote d'Ivoire will help give a blend of experience and energy to the team.

So much will be expected of them from their fans back home. A possible Semi-Finals place cannot be ruled out for the team.

At the last championship in Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire finished 7th place and can do more with the array of experienced and young players the coaching crew have put together.

FIBA