Mathieu Agui elected President of Cote d'Ivoire's Basketball Federation

ABIDJAN - Mathieu Agui is the new President of the Cote d'Ivoire Basketball Federation (FIBB) following elections held in the country's capital city of Abidjan on Saturday.

Agui, who was elected with 35 votes against Mahama Coulibaly's 32, will serve a four-year term. In his post-election speech, the man taking over from outgoing president Toure Boubakari reminded everyone that the country's basketball programmes need to be revitalised following some recent disappointments.

"We must get back to work and implement our programme," said Agui, who served as Vice-President of FIBB from 2006-2010.

Last August Cote d'Ivoire (2-3) finished 12th in the 16-team AfroBasket 2015. The result was the former African champions' worst showing in the history of the competition.

Cote d'Ivoire (CIV) at AfroBasket 2015

And, after four consecutive appearances at AfroBasket Women, Cote d’Ivoire missed out on qualification for AfroBasket Women 2015 held in Yaounde, Cameroon.

As well as facing the challenge of relaunching the game and making it attractive to youngsters, Agui is expected to bring back unity to the country's basketball family.

Back in August, just days before Africa's flagship event tipped off in Rades, Tunisia, Cote d'Ivoire's senior men's national team head coach Hugues Occansey - saw a number of key players abandoning the training camp for alleged disagreements with the federation. 

Agui called on his opponents to come together to strengthen basketball in the country, an indication of how keen he is to place FIBB's best interests as his biggest priority.

FIBA