Abidjan Basket Club Fighters, commonly known as ABC Fighters, is an Ivorian professional basketball club based in the city of Abidjan. Founded in 1997, the team is the most successful men teams in the country, with a record 22 national championships, and one continental FIBA Africa Champions Cup in 2005. The home arena of the team is the Palais des Sports de Treichville.
History The ABC club was established in 1997 by members of the basketball section of the Africa Sports d'Abidjan football club. In 2002, the team played in the FIBA Africa Club Champions Cup for the first time. In 2004, the first-ever Ivorian Basketball Championship was won.
In 2005, ABC won the FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup and was crowned African champions for the first time. In the final, ABC beat Angolan club Interclube 67–66. Stéphane Konaté was named the competition's Most Valuable Player.
In 2021, the team was re-named from ABC to ABC Fighters. The team is nicknamed Dangôrôs, a term that designates in Malinké those who have earned the respect devolved to the elders.
On 18 November 2022, ABC defeated Stade Malien in the Road to BAL semi-finals and clinched their first-ever ticket to the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
In the playoffs of the 2023 BAL season, ABC played against Petro de Luanda in the quarter-finals. They lost 88-84.
In September 2024, the Fighters signed Karim Mané, the first former NBA player to sign with the team.
Honours Domestic Ivorian Basketball Championship Champions (22): 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 Ivorian Cup Champions (12): 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 Ivorian SuperCup Champions (2): 2005, 2006
International FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup Winners (1): 2005
In African competitions FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup (7 appearances)
2002 – 5th Place 2004 – Runners-up 2005 – Champions
2006 – 6th Place 2007 – 3rd Place
2012 – 8th Place 2014 – 11th Place
BAL Qualifiers (1 appearance) 2020 – Second Round
BAL season by season SeasonLeagueConferenceRegular seasonPostseasonHead coachCaptainFinishWinsLossesWin %ABC Fighters2023BALSahara4th32Lost quarterfinals (Petro de Luanda, 84–88)Liz MillsStéphane KonatéSeason record32Playoffs record01.000
Players
Current roster As of 26 February 2023.
Head coach: Liz Mills
For the 2023 BAL Playoffs the team signed Kenyan forward Tylor Ongwae, Tunisian PG Omar Abada and Guinean centre Ousmane Drame.
Notable players
Stéphane Konaté Abraham Sie
Head coaches Franck Sylva: (-2023) Liz Mills: (2023) Milutin Nikolić: (2023–present)
References
External links Abidjan Basket Club on Facebook