Spain commenced their journey in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 with a commanding performance, securing a resounding 94-64 victory against Cote d’Ivoire in their Group G clash.
The current title holders extended their unbeaten record to 9-0 against African teams in the history of the World Cup.
While Cote d’Ivoire showed resilience in the initial 15 minutes, Spain’s dominance intensified during the latter part of the second period.
Ultimately, Spain’s superior size, depth, and experience proved overwhelming for the Ivorian team.
“The first game is always tricky,” said Sergio Scariolo, Spain head coach. “You never know what you’re going to find with mindset, nerves. I think we got through that pretty well.
“We did several good things, a few bad things – mostly turnovers. We know which are our improvement areas. The attitude of the players was good. We need to get better, and we look forward to the next one.”
Watch the game highlights between Spain and Cote d’Ivoire in the First Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023:
