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Ivory Coast men's national basketball team
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| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| country | Côte d'Ivoire | |
| coach | Miguel Ángel Hoyo | |
| fiba_ranking | ||
| nickname | Les Éléphants | |
| (The Elephants) | ||
| joined_fiba | 1961 | |
| logo | Fibb.jpg | |
| logo_width | 220px | |
| fiba_zone | FIBA Africa | |
| national_fed | Fédération Ivoirienne de Basket-Ball | |
| wc_appearances | 5 | |
| zone_championship | AfroBasket | |
| zone_appearances | 25 | |
| zone_medals | [[File:Gold medal africa.svg | 16px]] Gold (1981, 1985) |
| [[File:Silver medal africa.svg | 16px]] Silver (1978, 1980, 2009, 2021) | |
| zone2_championship | AfroCan | |
| zone2_appearances | 2 | |
| zone2_medals | Silver (2023) | |
| h_pattern_b | _cuciturerev | |
| h_body | ff8c00 | |
| h_shorts | ffffff | |
| h_pattern_s | _orangesides | |
| a_pattern_b | _IRE10 | |
| a_body | ff8c00 | |
| a_shorts | ff8c00 | |
| a_pattern_s | _whitesides |
the men's team
(The Elephants) The Ivory Coast men's national basketball team is the men's basketball side that represents Ivory Coast in international competition. The team competes regularly in the African Championship and is administered by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Basket-Ball.
With two AfroBasket titles and six overall finals appearances, the country is traditionally home to one of the continent's finest basketball national teams. The Elephants have played at the FIBA Basketball World Cup five times and also played in the 2023 edition.
History
Early AfroBasket Success (1968–1985)
After a 5th place finish at the FIBA Africa Championship 1968 in Morocco, the Ivory Coast national basketball team rose to prominence in the late 1970s and 1980s.
Côte d’Ivoire reached the final of the FIBA Africa Championship in 1978 and 1980, finishing as runners-up to Senegal on both occasions.
First AfroBasket titles
In 1981, Côte d’Ivoire captured their first continental title, defeating the Egypt in the championship game. Four years later, while hosting the 1985 AfroBasket in Abidjan, they claimed a second title after beating the Angola.
Return to the World Stage (2009–2019)
AfroBasket 2009 silver
After years outside of the spotlight, Côte d’Ivoire finished second at AfroBasket 2009, their first podium finish since 1985.
2010 FIBA World Championship
The result qualified the team for the 2010 FIBA World Championship, their first FIBA Basketball World Cup appearance since 1986. Côte d’Ivoire finished with a 1–4 record, but celebrated a historic milestone by defeating the Puerto Rico 88–76 in their final group game — the nation’s first-ever World Cup victory.
Dramatic Qualification for 2019 World Cup
In the final round of African qualifiers, Côte d’Ivoire needed to win their last three games by a combined margin of 66 points in order to qualify as the best-ranked third-placed team. Against the odds, they surpassed that mark with a total margin of 73 points.
A decisive moment came in their 72–46 victory over the Nigeria, one of Africa’s strongest squads. Combined with a loss for the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire clinched qualification ahead of Cameroon.
2019 World Cup Campaign
At the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Côte d’Ivoire competed in Group A alongside China, Poland and Venezuela.
Later years (2020–present)
AfroBasket Resurgence and Near Miss (2021)
Côte d’Ivoire advanced to the AfroBasket 2021 final held in Rwanda, marking the first time they reached the championship game since AfroBasket 2009. In the semi-finals, they defeated the Senegal 75–65, powered by a dominant double-double from Matt Costello (17 points, 12 rebounds), contributions from Vafessa Fofana and Nisre Mimi Zouzoua, and a strong bench performance by Souleyman Diabaté scoring 14 points.
In the final, Côte d’Ivoire narrowly lost to the Tunisia 78–75, as Tunisia retained their title. Souleyman Diabaté was a standout for the Ivorians, scoring a game-high 22 points.
2025 AfroBasket Campaign: Qualifying Dominance
Côte d’Ivoire entered the AfroBasket 2025 qualifiers with authority, posting a perfect 6–0 record. Notable victories against the Egypt in Cairo and Madagascar demonstrated their preparation and ambition.
In the main tournament scheduled for August 2025 in Angola, Côte d’Ivoire competes in the group phase with fixtures against Rwanda, Cape Verde, and DR Congo.
Competitive record
FIBA World Cup
| FIBA World Cup record | Qualification record | Year | Round | Position | GP | W | L | GP | W | L | Total | 5/17 | 27 | 2 | 25 | 24 | 17 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil 1963 | did not qualify | AfroBasket served as qualification | ||||||||||||||||
| Uruguay 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Yugoslavia 1970 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Puerto Rico 1974 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Philippines 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Colombia 1982 | Classification round | 13th | 7 | 0 | 7 | |||||||||||||
| Spain 1986 | Preliminary round | 23rd | 5 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||||||
| Argentina 1990 | did not qualify | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Greece 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||
| United States 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Japan 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Turkey 2010 | Preliminary round | 21st | 5 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Spain 2014 | did not qualify | |||||||||||||||||
| China 2019 | Classification round | 29th | 5 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 7 | 5 | ||||||||||
| PhilippinesJapanIndonesia 2023 | 27th | 5 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 2 | |||||||||||
| Qatar 2027 | To be determined | To be determined |
FIBA Africa Championship
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | L | Total | colspan=2 | 25/31 | 151 | 76 | 75 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Republic 1962 | did not enter | ||||||||||||||
| MAR 1964 | |||||||||||||||
| TUN 1965 | |||||||||||||||
| MAR 1968 | Seventh place | 7th | 7 | 4 | 3 | ||||||||||
| EGY 1970 | did not qualify | ||||||||||||||
| SEN 1972 | Tenth place | 10th | 6 | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||
| CAF 1974 | did not qualify | ||||||||||||||
| EGY 1975 | |||||||||||||||
| SEN 1978 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 2 | ||||||||||
| MAR 1980 | 2nd | 7 | 5 | 2 | |||||||||||
| SOM 1981 | Champions | 1st | 7 | 6 | 1 | ||||||||||
| EGY 1983 | Fourth place | 4th | 6 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||
| CIV 1985 | Champions | 1st | 7 | 6 | 1 | ||||||||||
| TUN 1987 | Classification stage | 7th | 5 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||
| ANG 1989 | 5th | 7 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||||
| EGY 1992 | Preliminary round | 11th | 5 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||||
| KEN 1993 | Classification stage | 6th | 5 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||
| ALG 1995 | 7th | 5 | 3 | 2 | |||||||||||
| SEN 1997 | 8th | 5 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||
| ANG 1999 | Eight place | 8th | 6 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||
| MAR 2001 | Classification stage | 8th | 6 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||
| EGY 2003 | Eleventh place | 11th | 6 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||
| ALG 2005 | Classification stage | 10th | 7 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||
| ANG 2007 | Quarterfinals | 8th | 6 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||
| LBA 2009 | Runners-up | 2nd | 9 | 5 | 4 | ||||||||||
| MAD 2011 | Fourth place | 4th | 8 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||||
| CIV 2013 | 4th | 7 | 5 | 2 | |||||||||||
| TUN 2015 | Round of 16 | 12th | 5 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||
| TUN SEN 2017 | Preliminary round | 14th | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||
| RWA 2021 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||
| ANG 2025 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 4 | 3 | 1 |
FIBA AfroCan
Runners-up
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | L | Total | 9 | 5 | 4 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLI 2019 | Tenth place | 10th | 3 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||||
| ANG 2023 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 5 | 1 |
African Games
- 1978 –
- 1987 –
- 2003 – 4th
- 2007 – 6th
- 2011 – 8th
- 2015 – 7th
Team
Current roster
Team for the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket.
- ESP Miguel Ángel Hoyo
- CIV Stéphane Konaté
- ESP Pablo Abuin
- (C) Team captain
- Club – describes last club before the tournament
- Age – describes age on 12 August 2025
Notable players
Other current notable players from Ivory Coast:
- Club – describes current club
- Age – describes age on 8 June 2017
Past rosters
Roster for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
- SLO Dejan Prokić
- SRB Miloš Gligorijević
- (C) Team captain
- Club – describes last club before the tournament
- Age – describes age on 25 August 2023
Team for the 2013 FIBA Africa Championship.
- ESP Natxo Lezkano
- Club – describes last club before the tournament
- Age – describes age on 20 August 2013
Head coaches
- CIV Jean-Claude Kouadio – Late 1970s
- CIV Kouassi Germain (1981)
- YUG Vladislav Lučić: (1981–1983)
- CIV Alphonse Bilé (1985)
- CIV Georges S. Bamba – 1980s
- CIV Tanguy E. Guel – 1990s
- FRA Gérard Sol – 2000–2006
- FRA Jacques Monclar: (2007)
- SUI Randoald Dessarzin: (2009, 2010)
- FRA Christophe Denis: (2012)
- ESP Natxo Lezkano: (2011, 2013, 2015, 2024)
- SLO Dejan Prokic (a.i.): (August 2022)
- ESP Miguel Ángel Hoyo: (2025)
Kit
Manufacturer
Peak
References
References
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20240205175439/https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/FIBA/fibaStru/nfLeag/nfProf.asp?nationalFederationNumber=267 FIBA National Federations – Cote d'Ivoire], fiba.com. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
- (10 April 2024). "Team Profile: Côte d’Ivoire – history and pedigree". AfricaBasket.
- (10 April 2024). "Team Profile: Côte d’Ivoire – history and pedigree". AfricaBasket.
- (30 August 2009). "Côte d’Ivoire secure silver at AfroBasket 2009". FIBA.basketball.
- (16 August 2023). "Ivory Coast score historic first World Cup win against Puerto Rico". Courtside1891.
- (22 February 2019). "Sensational Côte d’Ivoire trounce Nigeria to revive World Cup hopes". FIBA.basketball.
- (25 February 2019). "Côte d’Ivoire qualify dramatically for China 2019". FIBA.basketball.
- (1 September 2019). "China beat Côte d’Ivoire 70-55 in FIBA World Cup opener". Xinhua News.
- (5 September 2021). "Cote d’Ivoire advance to AfroBasket 2021 Final after nail-biting win over Senegal". FIBA.basketball.
- (6 September 2021). "Tunisia edge Ivory Coast for third FIBA AfroBasket title". PM News.
- (2025). "Team Profile: Côte d’Ivoire chasing first title since 1985". FIBA.basketball.
- (2025). "Ivory Coast schedule for AfroBasket 2025 group phase". Proballers.
- (12 August 2025). "Team roster: Ivory Coast".
- (20 August 2023). "Mondial basket-ball 2023 : la liste des 12 éléphants sélectionnés dévoilée avec Zouzoua et Souleymane Diabaté".
- (25 August 2023). "Team roster: Ivory Coast". FIBA.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130502000231/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/colu/p/newsid/55390/arti.html Head coaches], fiba.com. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- (30 August 2022). "Basketball-Ivory Coast: the birth of a golden generation?".
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150612114111/http://www.fiba.com/afrobasket/2015/Cote-d-Ivoire#iset=0c0a06f4-4ffc-4e3c-bb42-4d4cf84da68c&iid=cc1b8179-2dd3-4667-abef-b8ac1829d94e 2015 FIBA Africa Championship – Cote d'Ivoire], FIBA.com. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
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