Ivory Coast men's national basketball team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Ivory Coast women's national basketball team.

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]

Côte d'Ivoire

FIBA ranking	31 (25 February 2025)[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)
Home Away

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						To be determined
	5/17		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			151	76	75

FIBA AfroCan

  Runners-up

Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L
2019	Tenth place	10th	3	0	3
2023	Runners-up	2nd	6	5	1
Total			9	5	4

African Games

See also: Basketball at the 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
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. 0 Assemian Moulare 22 – (2003-01-21)21 January 2003 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) JA Vichy Basket 2 Bazoumana Koné 31 – (1993-12-13)13 December 1993 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Mitteldeutscher BC 7 Maxence Dadiet 26 – (1999-03-02)2 March 1999 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Stade Toulousain Basketball 8 Lionel Kouadio 23 – (2001-09-01)1 September 2001 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) CB Morón 10 Solo Diabate 38 – (1987-07-21)21 July 1987 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Atletico Petroleos 12 Vafessa Fofana 33 – (1992-06-12)12 June 1992 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) BCM Gravelines Dunkerque 16 Bali Coulibaly 30 – (1995-07-03)3 July 1995 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Caen Basket Calvados 21 Amadou Sidibe 31 – (1994-03-25)25 March 1994 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Élan Béarnais 22 Sydney Hawmmond 25 – (2000-02-10)10 February 2000 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) Poissy Basket 24 Matt Costello 32 – (1993-08-05)5 August 1993 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Valencia Basket 25 Junior Ouattara 25 – (2000-07-07)7 July 2000 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Stade Toulousain Basketball 77 Jean Philippe Dally 29 – (1996-03-08)8 March 1996 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) JDA Dijon Basket	Head coach Miguel Ángel Hoyo Assistant coach(es) Stéphane Konaté Pablo Jose Abuin Nadela Legend (C) Team captain nat field describes country of last club before the tournament Age field is age on 12 August 2025

Notable players

Other current notable players from Ivory Coast:

Ivory Coast roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. G Pape-Philippe Amagou 32 – (1985-02-27)27 February 1985 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) Le Mans Sarthe Basket G/F Guy Landry Edi 28 – (1988-12-26)26 December 1988 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Saint-Chamond Basket F/C Herve Lamizana 36 – (1981-01-22)22 January 1981 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Yulon Luxgen PF Herve Toure 35 – (1982-02-25)25 February 1982 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) Estudiantes Concordia C Louri Frejus Zerbo 28 – (1989-04-02)2 April 1989 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) Limoges CSP Elite C Mohamed Bamba 19 – (1998-05-12)12 May 1998 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) Orlando Magic	Legend Club – describes current club Age – describes age on 8 June 2017

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
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. PG 0 Assémian Moularé 20 – (2003-01-21)21 January 2003 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Vichy-Clermont SF 1 Charles Abouo 33 – (1989-11-04)4 November 1989 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Le Portel PG 2 Bazoumana Kone 29 – (1993-12-13)13 December 1993 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Karlsruhe Lions PF 3 Amadou Sidibé 29 – (1994-03-25)25 March 1994 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Peñarol SF 4 Patrick Tapé 25 – (1998-06-08)8 June 1998 2.14 m (7 ft 0 in) Caledonia Gladiators SG 7 Maxence Dadiet 24 – (1999-03-02)2 March 1999 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Toulouse F 8 Mike Fofana 25 – (1997-10-05)5 October 1997 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) ABC Fighters PG 10 Solo Diabate 36 – (1987-07-21)21 July 1987 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Petro de Luanda SF 12 Vafessa Fofana 31 – (1992-06-12)12 June 1992 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Gravelines-Dunkerque C 23 Cédric Bah (C) 29 – (1994-05-11)11 May 1994 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Vichy-Clermont SG 45 Nisre Zouzoua 27 – (1996-07-16)16 July 1996 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Aix Maurienne SF 77 Jean-Philippe Dally 27 – (1996-03-08)8 March 1996 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Champagne Basket	Head coach Dejan Prokić Assistant coach(es) Miloš Gligorijević Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 25 August 2023

Team for the 2013 FIBA Africa Championship.

Ivory Coast national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. F 4 Charles Abouo 23 – (1989-11-04)4 November 1989 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) CB Peñas Huesca G 5 Mouloukou Diabate 26 – (1987-07-21)21 July 1987 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) SLUC Nancy Basket F 6 Issife Soumahoro 24 – (1988-10-31)31 October 1988 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Strasbourg IG G 7 Pape-Philippe Amagou 28 – (1985-02-27)27 February 1985 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Chorale Roanne Basket G 8 Kinidinnin Konate 32 – (1980-08-23)23 August 1980 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Abidjan Basket Club C 9 Hervé Lamizana 32 – (1981-01-22)22 January 1981 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) F 10 Ismaël N'Diaye 31 – (1982-04-20)20 April 1982 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Basket-club Boncourt G 11 Mickaël Toti 26 – (1987-04-11)11 April 1987 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) Reims Champagne Basket C 12 Jonathan Kale 27 – (1985-10-18)18 October 1985 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) CB Coruña C 13 Louri Zerbo 24 – (1989-04-02)2 April 1989 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) BCM Gravelines F 14 Guy Edi 24 – (1988-12-26)26 December 1988 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Gonzaga F 15 Mohamed Koné 32 – (1981-03-24)24 March 1981 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) Chorale Roanne Basket	Head coach Natxo Lezkano Legend Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 20 August 2013

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)

Kit

Manufacturer

Peak^[19]

See also

• Ivory Coast national under-19 basketball team
• Ivory Coast national under-17 basketball team
• Ivory Coast women's national basketball team
• Ivory Coast national 3x3 team