Men's U17 FIBA World Cup: End of a great chapter in Istanbul for Côte d'Ivoire's Éléphanteaux.
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 five blocks, showcasing his elite rim protection.
Although Serbia claimed a 97-71 victory in the final group game, 15-year-old Nathan Djako emerged as one of the tournament's brightest young prospects. The talented guard exploded for 27 points, including four three-pointers, against one of Europe's strongest youth teams.
With a 1-2 record, Côte d'Ivoire finished third in Group D, earning a historic berth in the Round of 16 during their first-ever World Cup appearance.
Puerto Rico ends championship hopes
The Young Elephants' championship run came to an end with a 101-85 loss to Puerto Rico 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 9th-16th classification games, providing another opportunity to gain valuable international experience.
African rivalry renewed
Next up is a highly anticipated matchup against Cameroon on Friday, July 3, in Istanbul.
The game will be a rematch of the 2025 FIBA U16 AfroBasket Final, 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.
Standout performers
Several Ivorian players have enjoyed outstanding tournaments:
- Nathan Djako – 17.0 points per game, including 27 points against Serbia.
- Jean-Philippe Oka – Two-way leader who posted 18 points and four steals against Venezuela.
- Barakel Koffi – Explosive scorer with 20 points against Australia.
- Raphael Ouedraogo – Defensive anchor highlighted by five blocks against Australia.
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.