We bring you last week's top performances from Ivorians who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.
#1. This week's number one is former international power forward
Alexander Poythress (203-1993, college:
Kentucky, currently plays in Euroleague). He led his Israeli team
Maccabi Tel-Aviv to a 1-point victory against the 15th-ranked Zalgiris (0-1)
84-83 in the Winner League in Thursday night's game.
Poythress recorded 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 30 minutes on the court.
Maccabi Playtika Tel-Avivis placed in the Winner League.
Poythress has a dual citizenship: Ivorian and American.
He played for the Ivorian senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international power forward
Matt Costello (208-1993, college:
Michigan St., currently plays in Spain). Costello could not help
Baskonia (1-2) to beat Tenerife (3-0).
He scored 9 points and blocked 2 blocks.
But Baskonia was defeated
85-79 at home by the much higher-ranked Tenerife (#3).
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
This year Costello averages: 8.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.3apg, 2.0bpg, 2.3spg, 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 75.0%.
He is another player who holds two passports: Ivorian and American.
Costello played for the Ivorian national team in 22.
#3. The Ivorian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international power forward
Ismael Sanogo (203-1996, agency:
SLN, college:
Seton Hall, currently plays in Greece). Sanogo managed to help Aris Thessaloniki to win against the closely-ranked Panathinaikos (5-2)
69-65 in the Greek GBL in Sunday night's game.
He recorded 5 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. It was his first game for Aris this season.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. His team is placed second in the GBL.
The Regular Season already ended.
Sanogo has both American and Ivorian nationalities.
He played for the Ivorian national team year ago.
#4. Power forward
Amadou Sidibe (203-1994, agency:
Players Group, college:
Fairfield, currently plays in Argentina) was not able to help one of league's weakest teams
Penarol (4-3) in their last game. Despite Sidibe's good performance Penarol lost
78-93 on their home court in Mar del Plata to the higher-ranked (#3) Olimpico.
He recorded 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 30 minutes. It was his first game for Penarol this season.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Sidibe also holds two passports: Ivorian and American.
He used to play for the Ivorian national team
back in 22.
#5. Former international swingman
Vafessa Fofana (198-1992, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for
Gravelines-Dunkerque (4-0) in their game against Monaco (4-0) in the French Betclic ELITE ProA.
Fofana recorded 7 points and added 3 passes.
The league leader Gravelines-Dunkerque was defeated
95-85 on the road by the lower-ranked Monaco (#3).
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Fofana's overall stats this season are: 5.5ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.0apg and 1.3spg.
He used to play for the Ivorian national team
years ago.
#6. An experienced swingman
Charles Abouo (196-1989, college:
BYU, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Le Portel (0-4) in their last game. Despite Abouo's good performance Le Portel was edged
85-82 on their home court in Le Portel by the lower-ranked (#8) ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket.
He recorded 11 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 29 minutes.
So far Le Portel lost all four games in the Regular Season.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Abouo has relatively good stats this year: 10.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.3apg and 1.3spg in four games he played so far.
He holds both American and Ivorian passports.
Abouo is a former international player as he played for the Ivorian senior team year ago.
#7. Former international forward
Patrick Tape (208-1998, also represented by
Players Group, college:
USF, currently plays in United Kingdom) couldn't help one of league's weakest teams
Gladiators (2-0) in their game against Lions (4-0) in the British BBL.
He scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
But Gladiators was defeated
95-87 in London by the leading Lions.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Tape's overall stats this season are: 7.0ppg, 3.5rpg and 1.5spg.
He holds both American and Ivorian passports.
Tape used to play for the Ivorian national team
years ago.
#8. Forward
Joseph Mobio (199-1998, currently plays in Italy) contributed to a
Vanoli Cremona's victory against the 11th-ranked Agrigento (0-2)
73-66 in the Italian Serie A2 (second division) on Sunday night.
He scored 6 points in 28 minutes.
Vanoli Basket Cremona (2-0) is placed second in Group Green.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
This year Mobio has relatively solid stats: 12.0ppg, 2.5rpg and 1.5spg in two games.
He used to play for the Ivorian national team
back in 22.
#9. Former international center
Bali Coulibaly (199-1995, agency:
Octagon Europe, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Poitiers (2-2) in their last game on Friday. Despite Coulibaly's good performance the fourth-placed Poitiers (2-2) was defeated
82-73 on their home court in Poitiers by the lower-ranked Rueil (#4) in the Group A.
He was the second best scorer with 12 points. Coulibaly also added 4 assists.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Coulibaly's overall stats this season are: 10.0ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.8apg and 1.3spg.
He used to play for the Ivorian national team
years ago.
#10. Center
Seydou Aboubacar (207-1994, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help
Ourense (0-1) in their last game. Despite Aboubacar's good performance Ourense was badly defeated
104-86 in Madrid by the higher-ranked (#10) Estudiantes.
He scored 13 points in 22 minutes.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
This year Aboubacar's overall stats are: 10.0ppg and 1.5rpg in two games.
He is a former international player as years ago he still played for the Ivorian senior national team.
#11. Former international forward
Remi Dibo (201-1991, college:
WVU, currently plays in France) led
Union Rennes to a victory over the tenth-ranked Loon-Plage crushing them
110-89 in the French NM1 (third division) in Friday night's game.
Dibo was MVP of the game. He scored 22 points, had 5 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 25 minutes.
Dibo has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 15.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.5apg and 2.5spg in four games.
Despite Dibo played previously for the French U16 national team, he is currently in the Ivorian national team roster.
#12. Former international center
Mohamed Kone (210-1981, college:
Valpo, currently plays in France) helped
Pontoise win their game against the 14th-ranked Hyeres-Toulon
77-74 in the French NM1 (third division) last Friday.
Kone scored only 4 points.
Kone's total stats this season are: 4.7ppg and 3.3rpg.
He used to play for the Ivorian national team
back in 19.
#13. Former international forward
Moussa Kone (203-1993, college:
Hofstra, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help
Cantabria in their game against Andorra in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division).
Kone scored only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 19 minutes.
His team was crushed by 41 points
88-47.
This year Kone's total stats are: 2.5ppg and 3.0rpg in two games.
He holds both American and Ivorian passports.
Kone used to play for the Ivorian national team
years ago.
#14. Former international guard
Bazoumana Kone (190-1993, college:
Bremerhaven, currently plays in Germany) couldn't help
Lions (0-2) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance Lions was defeated
80-74 in Nuernberg by the much higher-ranked Falcons (#3).
Kone scored 14 points and added 3 passes.
This season Kone has very high stats. He averages: 21.0ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.5apg and 1.5spg.
Despite Kone played previously for the German university national team, he is currently in the Ivorian national team roster.
#15. Former international point guard
Maxence Dadiet (192-1999, currently plays in France) was the main contributor in
Toulouse's victory against the 14th-ranked CFBB
70-58 in the French NM1 (third division) last Tuesday.
Dadiet was the best player in that game. He recorded 18 points, 4 assists and 5 steals in 27 minutes.
Dadiet has very impressive stats this year: 16.8ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.3apg and 3.0spg in four games.
Despite he played previously for the French U16 national team, Dadiet is currently in the Ivorian national team roster.
The list of other players, who all have Ivorian passport but never been selected to any of Ivorian national teams: #1. Jonas Zohore (210-C-1991, agency:
BIG, currently plays in Lithuania) led
Siauliai to a victory against the league outsider Prienai CBet (0-4)
97-89 in the Lithuanian LKL on Monday night.
He recorded 11 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 25 minutes.
BC Siauliai (2-2) is placed eighth in the LKL.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
This year Zohore's overall stats are: 9.5ppg and 5.0rpg in four games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Danish and Ivorian.
#2. Mohamed Toure (189-PG-1992, currently plays in Italy) could not help
Ancona (1-0) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Toure's good performance Ancona was defeated
76-70 on the road by the much lower-ranked Senigallia (#12) in the Group C.
He scored 10 points and added 4 passes.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Toure has reliable stats this season: 11.0ppg, 3.0rpg and 2.5apg.
He is another player who holds two passports: Ivorian and Italian.
Despite Toure's Ivorian nationality, he previously played for the Italian U20 national team and is probably not eligible to play for the Ivorian team.
#3. Ladji Meite (203-F/C-2000, currently plays in France) contributed to
Toulouse's victory against the 14th-ranked CFBB (0-4)
70-58 in the French NM1 (third division) on Tuesday night.
He recorded 6 points.
Toulouse Basket Club (3-1) is placed third in Group A.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Meite has averaged so far 6.3ppg, 4.0rpg and 1.3spg.
