Côte d’Ivoire made a perfect start to its fourth window of the African qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The Elephants defeated Mali 83-77 on Thursday, August 27, at the Dakar Arena, after a closely contested game that Côte d’Ivoire controlled for most of the night. The victory moves the Elephants to the top of Group F, providing an important first step on the road to the 2027 World Cup in Qatar.
Côte d’Ivoire Efficient from the Start
The Elephants quickly took control of the game. At the end of the first quarter, Côte d’Ivoire led 27-21, before slightly extending its advantage in the second quarter. At halftime, the Elephants held an eight-point lead (41-33).
Mali tried to respond after the break and won the third quarter 18-16. However, Côte d’Ivoire maintained enough composure to withstand the Eagles’ comeback attempt. The final quarter was particularly intense and ended in a 26-26 tie, allowing the Elephants to maintain their advantage until the final buzzer.
Kobi Simmons and Zouzoua Nisré Lead the Way
In his first campaign with the Ivorian national team during this window, Kobi Simmons was one of the key contributors to the victory. The point guard finished with 17 points, 3 assists and a 12 efficiency rating, providing stability to Côte d’Ivoire’s offense.
Nisré Zouzoua also made a valuable contribution off the bench. The Ivorian guard scored 15 points, grabbed 3 rebounds and finished with a 13 efficiency rating. His entry into the game, alongside Solo Diabaté, who recorded 5 points, 3 assists and 5 rebounds, helped Côte d’Ivoire regain its offensive rhythm.
Another positive note was Pacôme Dadiet, who made his national team debut and made his presence felt in the paint with 9 points and 10 rebounds. Jonathan Cissé also finished with 11 points and 3 rebounds.
Kanouté Carries Mali, but Côte d’Ivoire Holds Firm
For Mali, Siriman Kanouté was the game’s leading scorer with 23 points, while also adding 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Oumar Ballo made his presence felt in the paint with 9 points and 10 rebounds.
Despite their efforts, the Eagles were never able to definitively regain control of a game in which Côte d’Ivoire spent nearly 32 minutes in the lead, compared with just 7 minutes and 29 seconds for Mali.
An Important Victory Ahead of Egypt
With this 83-77 victory, Côte d’Ivoire has made an ideal start to the fourth window. The Elephants must now quickly turn their attention to their next game against Egypt, before closing out the window against Angola.
The victory over Mali is even more significant given that the two teams were meeting again after their memorable quarterfinal clash at the 2025 AfroBasket, which Mali won 102-96 in overtime. This time, Côte d’Ivoire learned from the past and left Dakar with the victory. The Elephants can now look ahead to the remainder of the window with confidence.