Former #AfroBasket Champions and the first #African nation to qualify for the upcoming 2023 World Cup, FIBB, Fédération Ivoirienne de Basket-Ball aims to solidify their return to the international stage with their fifth and most important World Cup appearance.
Last Updated on
January 8, 2024
Former #AfroBasket Champions and the first #African nation to qualify for the upcoming 2023 World Cup, FIBB, Fédération Ivoirienne de Basket-Ball aims to solidify their return to the international stage with their fifth and most important World Cup appearance.
In order to achieve their ambitions, the #Elephants will be able to count on national team vet Souleyman Diabaté. The experienced leader of a squad has set itself the goal of reaching the second round of the 2023 World Cup.
"Our goal is to qualify for the second round..." said Souleyman Diabaté in an interview with FIBA.basketball.
Based on the #Ivorian national team's statistics during the African Zone qualifiers for the World Cup, where they lined up with a 10-2 record and a 9-0 run, Souleyman Diabaté has every reason to be optimistic. But looking back at Côte d'Ivoire's last appearances at the 2023 World Cup, there is reason to temper the player's ardour.
In 2010 in #Turkey, Côte d'Ivoire won just once against #PuertoRico, finishing with a 1-4 record. In 2019, during the #Chinese World Cup, the Elephants unfortunately failed to taste the joys of victory, with a 0-5 record in China. In 2023, if the Ivorians are to qualify for the second round, they will have to do well against Spain, Iran and #Brazil in Group G in Jakarta.
Souleyman Diabate, who took part in his country's last two world campaigns, will be Côte d'Ivoire's undisputed leader at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. The playmaker was just 23 when he played in Turkey. He was injured in the first game, but continued to play and finished with an average of 9.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists.
"I was a young player at the time. I wanted to shine. I wanted to show everyone that I could play at international level against great teams and great players," said Diabate, who helped the Elephants reach their first World Cup since back-to-back appearances in 1982 and 1986. The lessons he learned in Turkey have helped him see things differently in the long term. "I realized that I had a lot of work to do, that I had to be focused all the time. I learned that international basketball requires a lot of hard work," he said.
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Diabaté has always answered the call of his homeland. As well as taking part in two World Cups, he has taken part in eight FIBA AfroBaskets and appeared in 21 of the 24 games in the African qualifiers for the 2019 and 2023 World Cups.
The motivation to play for his country remains high, he adds: "The simple fact of representing the country among the 10 or 12 best players in Côte d'Ivoire is great for me. I represent the country, my family name... For me, I'm proud. Where I come from, it's incredible to be at this level".
Now it's time to see if Côte d'Ivoire can prove itself on the international stage. Souleyman Diabate's experience will certainly help.
#african #eyeson #FIBA #FIBAWC #basketball #worldcup #WorldCup23 #ivorycoast #africanbasketball #ballislife #africa #NBAAfrica #fastrising
[Image/Photography Credit: FIBA]
