2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers: The Elephants Kick Off their Preparations for Second Qualifying Window
After an outstanding first qualifying window that saw Côte d’Ivoire finish with a perfect 3-0 record in Group B during the February games in Senegal, the Elephants are now preparing for the second stage of their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 qualification campaign.
Head coach Miguel Hoyo Ramos and his players have settled in Tunis, Tunisia, for preparation ahead of the return window scheduled for July 2-5, 2026 in Dakar, Senegal. Players are joining the national team camp gradually, including several domestic league standouts such as Jonathan Cissé, Kra Ulrich, William Babatunde, Moussa Koné and Ismaël Diarra.
The roster also includes international-based players such as Traoré Aboubakar, Sydney Hawmmond, Amadou Sidibé, Junior Ouattara and Alexandre Lomby, who compete mainly in the French basketball system.
FIBA has announced Côte d’Ivoire’s schedule for the upcoming window:
- Thursday, July 2, 2026 – 18:00 GMT: Côte d’Ivoire vs Senegal
- Saturday, July 4, 2026 – 15:00 GMT: DR Congo vs Côte d’Ivoire
- Sunday, July 5, 2026 – 15:00 GMT: Côte d’Ivoire vs Madagascar
Following their perfect start, the Elephants will look to maintain their momentum and strengthen their position in the qualification race. After the home-and-away group phase, the top three teams from each group will advance to the second round, where results will carry over before six additional games against teams from the other groups.
To qualify for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, teams must finish among the top two in their second-round group or claim the best third-place position. Africa will have five spots available for the global tournament.
Currently ranked third in Africa and 38th worldwide, Côte d’Ivoire continues to build on its recent progress and aims to represent the continent with pride on the international stage.
The preparation continues as the Elephants chase their dream of reaching the 2027 World Cup.