Côte d'Ivoire Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné met a delegation of NBA Africa on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, with talks centring on plans to develop the country's basketball ecosystem. The NBA Africa team was led by chief executive Clare Akamanzi and included former player Joakim Noah and Basketball Africa League president Amadou Gallo Fall.
The Vice President framed basketball as a driver of economic growth, social inclusion and youth opportunity, and pointed to President Alassane Ouattara's ambition to attract structural investment in sport, infrastructure, entrepreneurship and tourism. He welcomed NBA Africa's stated willingness to work closely with the Ivorian Basketball Federation and the Ministry of Sports on building the local game.
Citing the recent title won by the country's men's U18 national team, Koné said the result confirmed the potential of Ivorian youth and stressed the need to convert that talent into lasting opportunity.
