Men's U17 FIBA World Cup: Young Elephants finish historic debut with the 11th place
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.
Young stars shine on the world stage
Several Ivorian prospects emerged as standout performers throughout the tournament.
Nathan Djako established himself as Côte d'Ivoire's leading scorer, averaging 14.6 points and 3.7 steals per game, showcasing his ability to impact both ends of the floor.
Jean-Philippe Oka delivered an outstanding all-around tournament, averaging 13.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game, while Raphael Ouedraogo controlled the paint with 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and the team's highest efficiency rating (18.9).
Running the offense, Barakel Koffi averaged a team-best 4.1 assists per game, providing leadership and playmaking throughout the competition.
A bright future for Ivorian basketball
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 FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026, with the ultimate objective of qualifying for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2027.
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.