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Souleyman Diabate will represent Ivory Coast in the 19th Fiba Basketball World Cup
As the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia prepare to become the first co-hosts of a Basketball World Cup, Africa’s five representatives are also eyeing history when the tournament tips off on Friday 25 August.
Eleven-time African champions Angola will be there alongside traditional contenders Egypt and Ivory Coast, while debutants Cape Verde and South Sudan will also try to steer the continent into the quarter-finals for the first time.
The 32-team tournament also acts as an Olympic qualifier, with the highest-placed team taking one of Africa’s two slots at Paris 2024. Angola and Ivory Coast are the highest ranked African teams while the USA, even without their biggest NBA stars, are favourites to win for a sixth time.
Ahead of the 19th edition of the…