Les Éléphanteaux ont parfaitement négocié la phase de groupes du FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026 à Abidjan. Devant leur public du Palais des Sports de Treichville, la Côte d’Ivoire a remporté ses trois rencontres et termine en tête du Groupe A avec un bilan immaculé de 3 victoires en autant de matchs. Une entrée en matière convaincante qui place les jeunes Ivoiriens parmi les sérieux prétendants au titre continental. Trois matchs, trois victoires La Côte d’Ivoire a débuté sa campagne de la meilleure des manières avec une impressionnante victoire 104-51 face au Tchad . Dès cette première rencontre,
Abidjan, August 10, 2026 — Three games, three wins and a place in the quarterfinals. Playing on home soil, Côte d’Ivoire have made a perfect start to the FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket 2026, finishing the group stage undefeated and underlining their ambitions in front of their home crowd. With a 3-0 record, the young Elephants have advanced comfortably to the knockout stage, building confidence with each game. According to FIBA’s official team statistics, Côte d’Ivoire have combined strong individual performances with an impressive collective effort throughout the group phase. A Perfect Group Stage Côte d’Ivoire gradually established their authority across their three group games. Supported by a passionate home crowd, the Elephants controlled their opponents and avoided any major setbacks on their way to a perfect record. The three victories have given the hosts an ideal platform heading into the quarterfinals. More importantly, the group stage demonstrated the depth of the roster, with several players making significant contributions in different areas of the game. has emerged as one of the standout players for Côte d’Ivoire during the group stage. She is averaging , making her one of the team's most influential players. She is also averaging , providing a strong presence on both ends of the floor. Her ability to contribute consistently in scoring, rebounding and defense has made Adahe one of the key players to watch as Côte d’Ivoire enter the knockout rounds. leads Côte d’Ivoire in scoring after the group stage, averaging . She has also contributed , demonstrating her ability to impact the game at both ends of the court. Adahe follows closely with , while is averaging . Kaba has also been an important playmaker for the hosts, leading the team with . Her defensive contribution has been equally impressive, with , the highest average among the Ivorian players. One of the biggest positives from the group stage has been Côte d’Ivoire's ability to rely on more than one player. Adahe leads the team on the boards with , followed by and . Dissa has also provided a defensive presence in the paint, averaging , matching Adahe's average. The numbers underline the depth available to the coaching staff and the different ways Côte d’Ivoire can hurt opponents. The perfect group-stage record gives Côte d’Ivoire an important confidence boost, but the competition now enters a completely different phase. From the quarterfinals onward, every game becomes a must-win contest. The Elephants will need to maintain the defensive intensity, discipline and collective effort that carried them through the group stage. Playing at home, with the support of the Abidjan crowd and a team gaining momentum with every game, Côte d’Ivoire have already made their intentions clear. The hosts are now just three victories away from a place in the AfroBasket U18 Women’s final — and the dream of lifting the continental trophy on home soil remains alive.
Côte d’Ivoire could not have dreamed of a better start to the FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket 2026. Playing in front of their home crowd at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, the Éléphantes overwhelmingly defeated the Central African Republic 102–13, kicking off their continental campaign with an impressive collective display. Right from the opening tip-off, the Ivoirian team imposed a relentless pace, completely smothering their opponents with aggressive defense and an efficient transition game. The Central Africans never found solutions against the intensity of Thoms N’DA’s squad, who dominated all four quarters. A Collective Masterclass The Ivoirian selection showcased remarkable bench depth, with multiple players finishing in double figures. Marlyne Esther Adahe led the charge with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 7 steals, recording the highest efficiency rating of the match (29). Fatima Diouf: 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 steals. Françoise Hawa Kaba: 15 points, 7 assists, and 10 steals, proving omnipresent on both ends of the floor. 12 points and 11 rebounds, securing a solid double-double. 11 points on 5/9 shooting. 7 points each. Ivoirian dominance was further highlighted by a suffocating full-court pressure that forced 33 turnovers from the Central Africans, easily converting them into quick transition baskets. While the offense shined, it was the Ivoirian defense that truly left a mark. The Central African Republic was held to just 13 points, struggling with abysmal shooting percentages: (8.6%) from three-point range from the free-throw line No Central African player reached the five-point mark. Their leading scorer, Verdiane Editha Lenguendiat, was limited to 4 points, while Divine Claudette Ipende chipped in 3 units. The Éléphantes capitalized on constant steals, fast breaks, and forced turnovers, never allowing their opponent to get into the flow of the game.
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – Host nation Ivory Coast made a dream start to the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket, cruising to a dominant 104-51 victory over Chad in their Group A opener at the Palais des Sports de Treichville. Backed by their home crowd, the Young Elephants showcased their athleticism, defensive intensity, and offensive firepower, overwhelming Chad from start to finish to claim an emphatic 53-point victory. A One-Sided First Half After a brief feeling-out period, Côte d’Ivoire quickly imposed its rhythm through relentless defensive pressure and fast-break execution. Coach Stephane Konate’s squad forced numerous turnovers and converted them into easy transition baskets, steadily building a comfortable lead against a Chadian side that struggled to match the hosts’ pace and physicality. By halftime, the Young Elephants had already taken firm control of the game, leaving little doubt about the eventual outcome. Côte d’Ivoire’s Offense Fires on All Cylinders The hosts displayed impressive offensive balance, with several players reaching double figures. and led all scorers with . Djako also contributed: 1 rebound 4 steals 50% shooting from the field Kouame-Zeze filled the stat sheet with: 19 points 5 rebounds 4 steals 66.7% shooting A team-high efficiency rating of Inside the paint, provided a strong presence, finishing with: 62.5% shooting A +23 plus/minus rating Point guard orchestrated the offense brilliantly, recording: 7 rebounds A game-best efficiency rating of Beyond scoring 104 points, Côte d’Ivoire’s defensive effort was equally impressive. The Young Elephants consistently disrupted Chad’s offense by forcing turnovers and controlling the boards throughout the game. Their defensive performance included: A clear rebounding advantage Sustained defensive pressure over all four quarters The team’s depth also allowed the coaching staff to rotate players without any drop in intensity. The convincing victory gives Côte d’Ivoire an ideal start to its home AfroBasket campaign and builds confidence heading into the remaining Group A fixtures. With a passionate home crowd behind them, the Young Elephants have already sent a strong message to the rest of the tournament—they intend to be serious contenders for the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket title. With this dominant opening victory, the hosts begin their quest for continental glory in the best possible fashion, delighting the home fans in Abidjan with a commanding performance.
The Ivorian basketball community has learned with deep sadness of the passing of Major General Dem Aly Justin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire and President of the Basketball Section of the Société Omnisports de l’Armée (SOA). He passed away on Friday, July 31, 2026. A respected figure within the military and sporting communities, Major General Dem Aly Justin was actively involved in the development and promotion of basketball within SOA. IvoireBasket extends its sincere condolences to his family, loved ones, the SOA family, and the entire Ivorian basketball community. May he rest in peace. 🕊️🇨🇮
Côte d’Ivoire is set to make history this summer as it prepares to host the FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026 for both boys and girls, scheduled to take place from August 5 to 16, 2026, in Abidjan. The Ivorian Basketball Federation (FIBB), under the leadership of its President Moussa Diarra, has officially taken on the organization of both continental competitions, marking a major milestone for basketball development in the country. The tournament will be played at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, which will welcome the continent's best young basketball talents for nearly two weeks of high-level competition. Twelve Nations Set to Compete in Each Tournament A total of 12 national teams in both the men's and women's categories will battle for continental glory in Abidjan. FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026 – Men The men's tournament will feature: Mali (defending African champions), FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026 – Women In the women’s competition, (also the defending African champions) will be joined by . In total, the event will bring together , with 12 nations competing in each category. According to the announced format, the teams will be divided into three groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarter-finals, leading into a knockout stage that will determine the new U18 African champions. For Côte d’Ivoire, the stakes are twofold: successfully hosting this inaugural U18 AfroBasket on home soil and giving its young "Elephants" (men’s and women’s teams) the chance to shine before their home crowd. The Treichville Sports Palace is thus set to become the gathering place for the new generation of African basketball for nearly two weeks.
Adahe Leads the Way
Marlyne Esther Adahe
18.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 24.7 efficiency rating per game
Africa
