Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal confirmed their status among Africa's basketball heavyweights by advancing to the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers following the conclusion of Window 3 in Dakar. The Elephants finished with a 2-1 record, highlighted by dominant victories over DR Congo (96-59) and Madagascar (99-74), while Senegal also posted a 3-0 mark after defeating Côte d'Ivoire in their rematch and taking care of business against Madagascar and DR Congo. DR Congo completed the trio of qualifiers from Group B thanks to the win 82-62, leaving Madagascar eliminated after 3 straight defeats. Although qualification has been secured, the job is far from finished. Results against the other qualified teams carry into the Second Round, making every victory increasingly valuable as Africa's top nations battle for the five World Cup tickets available for Qatar 2027.
Côte d'Ivoire's Young Elephants have completed a memorable first appearance at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, finishing 11th in the world after defeating New Zealand 85-81 in their final classification game in Istanbul, Türkiye. The reigning 2025 FIBA U16 AfroBasket champions ended the tournament with a 3-4 record, exceeding expectations and announcing themselves as one of Africa's brightest emerging basketball nations. A historic World Cup debut History was made from the opening game. Côte d'Ivoire defeated Venezuela 74-63 to earn the country's first-ever victory at a FIBA U17 World Cup, led by Jean-Philippe Oka, who finished with 18 points and four steals. The Young Elephants then gained valuable experience against two of the tournament's strongest teams, narrowly falling to Australia (78-73) before facing Serbia (97-71). After a Round of 16 defeat to Puerto Rico (101-85), the Ivorians responded impressively in the classification rounds by defeating African rivals Cameroon before edging New Zealand 85-81 to secure 11th place. Several Ivorian prospects emerged as standout performers throughout the tournament. established himself as Côte d'Ivoire's leading scorer, averaging and , showcasing his ability to impact both ends of the floor. delivered an outstanding all-around tournament, averaging , , and per game, while controlled the paint with , , and the team's highest efficiency rating (). Running the offense, averaged a team-best , providing leadership and playmaking throughout the competition. More than just an 11th-place finish, this tournament represents another major milestone in Côte d'Ivoire's long-term youth development project. Less than a year after capturing the FIBA U16 AfroBasket title, the Young Elephants proved they can compete with the world's elite. The next chapter begins in August, when Côte d'Ivoire hosts the , with the ultimate objective of qualifying for the . This generation has shown that Ivorian basketball is no longer an emerging story—it is becoming a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
Côte d'Ivoire's historic debut at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup has been filled with memorable performances and valuable experience against the world's best young talents. Drawn into a challenging Group D featuring global basketball powers, the African champions proved they belonged on the international stage. A promising group-stage campaign The Young Elephants opened their tournament by earning the country's first-ever victory at a FIBA U17 World Cup, defeating Venezuela 74-63. Jean-Philippe Oka led the way with 18 points and four steals. Côte d'Ivoire then pushed tournament contender Australia to the limit before falling 78-73. Barakel Koffi delivered an outstanding 20-point performance, while Raphael Ouedraogo anchored the defense with , showcasing his elite rim protection. Although Serbia claimed a victory in the final group game, emerged as one of the tournament's brightest young prospects. The talented guard exploded for , including , against one of Europe's strongest youth teams. With a , Côte d'Ivoire finished , earning a historic berth in the Round of 16 during their first-ever World Cup appearance. The Young Elephants' championship run came to an end with a in the Round of 16. Côte d'Ivoire remained competitive for much of the contest thanks to its aggressive transition offense, but Puerto Rico's efficient perimeter shooting proved decisive in the closing stages. Despite the defeat, the Ivorians remain in competition through the , providing another opportunity to gain valuable international experience. Next up is a highly anticipated matchup against on , in Istanbul. The game will be a rematch of the , where Côte d'Ivoire defeated Cameroon to win the African championship. The Young Elephants will now look to repeat that success on the world stage. Several Ivorian players have enjoyed outstanding tournaments: – , including . – Two-way leader who posted against Venezuela. – Explosive scorer with . – Defensive anchor highlighted by . Beyond the results, Côte d'Ivoire's World Cup debut has demonstrated the remarkable progress of the country's youth basketball program. Less than a year after winning the FIBA U16 AfroBasket title, the Young Elephants have shown they possess a generation capable of competing with the world's best and laying the foundation for a bright future for Ivorian basketball.
Valencia Basket has written a new chapter in club history by winning the 2025-26 Liga Endesa championship. The Taronja completed an incredible campaign with a dominant 108-84 victory over FC Barcelona Bàsquet in the decisive final game, securing the club’s second Spanish league title. At the heart of Valencia’s historic triumph was Ivorian international Matt Costello, whose versatility, defensive presence and shooting ability made him a valuable piece of Pedro Martínez’s championship roster. A historic season for Valencia Basket The Liga Endesa title completed a dream domestic campaign for Valencia. Earlier in the season, the club captured the Spanish Super Cup (Supercopa ACB), achieving the first-ever domestic double for its men’s first team. Valencia also made history in Europe by reaching the EuroLeague Final Four for the first time ever, establishing itself among the elite teams of European basketball. Matt Costello’s championship impact Throughout the Liga Endesa season, Costello provided consistency and balance to Valencia’s frontcourt. In , the Ivorian big man averaged: His efficiency was one of his biggest strengths, finishing the season with a , proving his ability to score efficiently inside while stretching defenses with his three-point shooting. Costello finished the campaign with , and , giving Valencia a modern frontcourt presence capable of impacting the game on both ends of the floor. Valencia’s road to the championship required resilience. After overcoming Joventut Badalona in the semifinals, the Taronja faced powerhouse FC Barcelona in the Finals. Barcelona won a thrilling Game 1 by a single point (113-112), but Valencia responded immediately with a dominant 102-75 victory in Game 2. The team then took control of the series with an 88-80 win in Game 3. The championship-clinching Game 4 was a statement performance. Valencia overwhelmed Barcelona 108-84 on their home court to secure the title in convincing fashion. After winning the Super Cup, reaching the EuroLeague Final Four and lifting the Liga Endesa trophy, Matt Costello can now officially add another achievement to his résumé:
Côte d’Ivoire made history on the opening day of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2026, securing the country’s first-ever win in the competition. The Young Elephants delivered a statement performance by defeating Venezuela 74-63 in Group D, bringing pride to the nation and the entire African continent. Leading the way was Jean-Philippe Oka, who produced a standout performance with 18 points, 2 assists and 4 steals. The reigning FIBA U16 AfroBasket 2025 MVP once again showed his leadership qualities, helping Côte d’Ivoire overcome a competitive Venezuelan team in their historic World Cup debut. “First World Cup game, first win, we can only be happy with the work we have done with these kids over the last two years,” said Moussa Diarra, President of the Ivorian Basketball Federation. For the federation, the victory represents the reward of a long-term youth development project designed to build a pathway toward the senior national team. Head coach Eric Anderson Affi, who guided Côte d’Ivoire to the FIBA U16 AfroBasket 2025 title, was proud of his team’s achievement. “With this win, we are making history and I’m proud to be part of it with these kids,” Affi said, while emphasizing that the team must maintain the same mentality in the upcoming games. The victory is more than just a result; it reflects the growth of Ivorian youth basketball. Omar Mangassouba highlighted the importance of the preparation behind the success, explaining that months of training, film sessions and hard work are now paying off on the biggest stage. Carlo Vieira, general manager of the national team program, believes this achievement sends a powerful message to young players in Côte d’Ivoire and around the world. “The work started two or three years ago and now we can see the results. These kids show that dreams are possible,” he said. However, Côte d’Ivoire’s mission is far from complete. After their historic opening win, the Young Elephants will continue their Group D campaign against Australia on June 28 and Serbia on June 30, aiming to create even more history in Istanbul. With Côte d’Ivoire also preparing to host the FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026, the country’s basketball program is entering a new era with the ambition of developing a generation capable of competing consistently at the highest international level.
The third window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers promises to be a crucial moment in the race for qualification. From July 2 to July 5, 2026, Africa’s top basketball nations will battle to strengthen their position and move closer to securing a place at the global tournament. Among the most anticipated matchups is the regional showdown between Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, scheduled to take place in Dakar. After a perfect start to their campaign with a 3-0 record, the Elephants enter the window full of confidence and currently sit at the top of Group B. Côte d’Ivoire already made a strong statement during the first window in February, defeating Senegal 90-80 in Dakar in a major upset. The Elephants showed composure under pressure and proved they can compete against one of Africa’s traditional basketball powers. Senegal, however, will be looking for revenge on home soil. The Lions currently sit second in Group B with a 2-1 record and know that this matchup could have major implications in the battle for the top positions and qualification to the next round. The Côte d’Ivoire-Senegal clash is part of a strong lineup of games during the third window, featuring several important continental matchups including , and other games that could reshape the standings across the different groups. Led by head coach , Côte d’Ivoire arrives with a balanced squad featuring international players and top performers from the domestic league. The objective is clear: maintain their momentum, protect their position at the top of the group, and take another step toward the 2027 World Cup. Côte d’Ivoire vs Senegal DR Congo vs Côte d’Ivoire Côte d’Ivoire vs Madagascar After the home-and-away group phase, the top three teams from each group will advance to the second round. Results from the first phase will carry over before teams play six additional games against opponents from the other groups. The two best teams from each second-round group, along with the best third-place team, will qualify for the , with Africa receiving . Currently ranked , Côte d’Ivoire continues its rise on the international stage and aims to confirm its place among the continent’s basketball elite. The Elephants now face a major test in Dakar — a game that could define their World Cup qualification journey.
Africa
