France concluded their disappointing FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 journey with a hard-fought 87-77 victory over Cote d’Ivoire.
In the second half, France initiated a 10-0 run, spearheaded by Nando de Colo’s 5 points and 2 assists, giving them a 9-point advantage.
However, Solo Diabete led Cote d’Ivoire’s resurgence, making the fourth quarter quite engaging.
Nicolas Batum, Isaia Cordiner, and Rudy Gobert contributed crucial points in the paint, allowing France to maintain an essential 78-75 lead.
Once again, de Colo came through with a timely shot, extending France’s lead to eight points with one minute and 23 seconds left.
Isaia Cordinier shone in his starting role, tallying 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 6-of-8 from the field. France had a significant +28-point differential with him on the court.
Rudy Gobert bolstered his score late in the game, finishing with 17 points and 8 rebounds, while Solo Diabate achieved Cote d’Ivoire’s second double-double of the World Cup with 13 points and 11 assists, many of them coming in the close moments of the second half.
Watch the game highlights between Cote d’Ivoire and France in the First Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023:
