Ivory Coast men's national basketball team
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.[2]
1 (13 July 2026)[1] | |||
| FIBA ranking | 37 1 (13 July 2026)[1] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Joined FIBA | 1961 | ||
| FIBA zone | FIBA Africa | ||
| National federation | Fédération Ivoirienne de Basket-Ball | ||
| Coach | Miguel Ángel Hoyo | ||
| Nickname(s) | Les Éléphants (The Elephants) | ||
| FIBA World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 5 | ||
| AfroBasket | |||
| Appearances | 25 | ||
| Medals |  Gold (1981, 1985) Silver (1978, 1980, 2009, 2021) | ||
| AfroCan | |||
| Appearances | 2 | ||
| Medals |  Silver (2023) | ||
|
| |||
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.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7]
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.[8]
2019 World Cup Campaign
At the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Côte d’Ivoire competed in Group A alongside China, Poland and Venezuela.[9]
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.[10]
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.[11]
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.[12]
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.[13]
Competitive record
FIBA World Cup
| FIBA World Cup record | Qualification record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | L | GP | W | L | |
 1963 | did not qualify | AfroBasket served as qualification | |||||||
 1967 | |||||||||
 1970 | |||||||||
 1974 | |||||||||
 1978 | |||||||||
 1982 |
Classification round | 13th | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||
 1986 |
Preliminary round | 23rd | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||
 1990 |
did not qualify | ||||||||
 1994 | |||||||||
 1998 | |||||||||
 2002 | |||||||||
 2006 | |||||||||
 2010 |
Preliminary round | 21st | 5 | 1 | 4 | ||||
| 2014 |
did not qualify | ||||||||
 2019 |
Classification round | 29th | 5 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 7 | 5 | |
  2023 |
27th | 5 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 2 | ||
 2027 |
To be determined | In progress | |||||||
 2031 | To be determined | ||||||||
| Total | 5/18 | 27 | 2 | 25 | 24 | 17 | 7 | ||
FIBA Africa Championship
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1962 | did not enter | ||||
 1964 | |||||
 1965 | |||||
| 1968 | Seventh place | 7th | 7 | 4 | 3 |
 1970 | did not qualify | ||||
 1972 | Tenth place | 10th | 6 | 1 | 5 |
 1974 | did not qualify | ||||
| 1975 | |||||
| 1978 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 1980 | 2nd | 7 | 5 | 2 | |
 1981 | Champions | 1st | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| 1983 | Fourth place | 4th | 6 | 3 | 3 |
 1985 | Champions | 1st | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| 1987 | Classification stage | 7th | 5 | 2 | 3 |
 1989 | 5th | 7 | 4 | 3 | |
| 1992 | Preliminary round | 11th | 5 | 1 | 4 |
 1993 | Classification stage | 6th | 5 | 2 | 3 |
 1995 | 7th | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| 1997 | 8th | 5 | 1 | 4 | |
| 1999 | Eight place | 8th | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| 2001 | Classification stage | 8th | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| 2003 | Eleventh place | 11th | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| 2005 | Classification stage | 10th | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 2007 | Quarterfinals | 8th | 6 | 2 | 4 |
 2009 | Runners-up | 2nd | 9 | 5 | 4 |
 2011 | Fourth place | 4th | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| 2013 | 4th | 7 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2015 | Round of 16 | 12th | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 2017 | Preliminary round | 14th | 3 | 0 | 3 |
 2021 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Total | 25/31 | 151 | 76 | 75 | |
FIBA AfroCan
Runners-up
African Games
- 1978 –
- 1987 –
- 2003 – 4th
- 2007 – 6th
- 2011 – 8th
- 2015 – 7th
Team
Current roster
Team for the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket.[14]
| Côte d'Ivoire national basketball team roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable players
Other current notable players from Ivory Coast:
| Ivory Coast roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Past rosters
Roster for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.[15][16]
| Ivory Coast men's national basketball team – 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team for the 2013 FIBA Africa Championship.
| Ivory Coast national basketball team roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Head coaches
Jean-Claude Kouadio – Late 1970s- Kouassi Germain (1981)
Vladislav Lučić: (1981–1983)- Alphonse Bilé (1985)
- Georges S. Bamba – 1980s
- Tanguy E. Guel – 1990s
Gérard Sol – 2000–2006- Jacques Monclar: (2007)
Randoald Dessarzin: (2009, 2010)- Christophe Denis: (2012)
Natxo Lezkano: (2011, 2013,[17] 2015, 2024)
Dejan Prokic (a.i.): (August 2022)[18]- Miguel Ángel Hoyo: (2025)
