Côte d’Ivoire Clinch 25th AfroBasket Appearance with tournament record Win Over Madagascar

ANTANANARIVO (Madagascar) – There was no suspense at the Palais des Sports de Mahamasina as Côte d’Ivoire cruised to a commanding 106-73 victory over Madagascar, securing their place in the FIBA AfroBasket for the 25th time.

A Historic Qualification Côte d’Ivoire needed just one win to book their ticket to the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket, and they did so in emphatic fashion, becoming the highest-scoring team in the tournament. Their 106 points surpassed Senegal’s previous high of 101, set against Gabon in the first round of Group C last November.

Dominance from Start to Finish From the opening tip-off, the Elephants took control. A Matt Costello layup set the tone for a relentless offensive surge, quickly establishing leads of 6-2 and 11-2. By halftime, Côte d’Ivoire had amassed an overwhelming 57-24 advantage, leaving Madagascar struggling to keep up.

To their credit, Madagascar showed resilience, managing an 18-18 tie in the third quarter. However, Côte d’Ivoire’s sheer firepower ensured they maintained a comfortable lead, closing the game with a decisive 33-point margin.

Key Turning Point The game was effectively decided in the first half. Côte d’Ivoire’s relentless attack, spearheaded by Matt Costello, left Madagascar reeling. Costello had already scored more than half of his 20 points before halftime, prompting coach Miguel Angel Hoyo Ramos to rest him after just 18 minutes of play.

Statistical Superiority The numbers told the story of Côte d’Ivoire’s dominance. They outscored Madagascar 58-28 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 56-37. Additionally, their ability to capitalize on turnovers (23 points) and fast breaks (29 points) underlined their efficiency on both ends of the court.

Next Steps in Group D With their qualification secured, Côte d’Ivoire will now turn their focus to upcoming games against Central African Republic and a determined Egyptian squad. Maintaining a perfect 3-0 record remains their target.

For Madagascar, the road ahead is more challenging. Their points deficit complicates their qualification hopes, making their next game against Egypt a crucial opportunity to improve their standing. A victory could see them move from 1-3 to 2-3, keeping their AfroBasket hopes alive.

Post-Match Reactions

• Jeannot Ravonimbola, Madagascar Head Coach: “We’re going to play our game and limit turnovers. We won’t let ourselves be dominated against Egypt. We need to improve our shooting, especially since our sharpshooter, Kiady, is injured but still playing.”
• Sitraka Raharimanantoanina, Madagascar Center: “We need to forget this first game and treat each remaining match as a final. The game against Central African Republic is crucial, but I believe in my teammates.”
• Matt Costello, Côte d’Ivoire Center: “Our energy at the beginning was really good. Hopefully, we can keep that up. The coach trusts our depth, and having 12 players contribute is a big advantage. The goal was to limit minutes today since we have three games in three days.”

Côte d’Ivoire have sent a clear message with their dominant win: they are in Madagascar to compete at the highest level and continue their legacy at the AfroBasket tournament.