VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - Now showing at AfroBasket 2015 in Tunisia is the French Connection, starring Cote d'Ivoire's Souleyman Diabate and Cape Verde's Ivan Almeida.

If you like thrillers, suspense, drama and complicated plots, watch these action heroes when they return to the hardwood on Monday.

Two players earning a living by competing for clubs in France are now putting on scintillating, must-see displays for their national teams in Rades, on the outskirts of Tunis.

The winner of the AfroBasket will clinch a spot in next year's Rio de Janeiro Games while the teams that finish second, third and fourth will earn invitations to one of the three FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs).

Most players, you'd think, would give their right hand to help their national side reach Rio.

No so for Cote d'Ivoire, though.

I decided to come because I want to represent my country and I really like to play the African Cup. - Diabate

The majority have stayed away.

They refused to travel to Tunis because of a pay dispute with their federation.

Diabate, who has played for the Elephants since AfroBasket 2007, says his teammates from 2013 want money that's owed to them by the federation and doesn't blame them for not taking part.

"My teammates were not happy," he said after the team's 64-52 win over Zimbabwe on Saturday.

"I was unhappy, too."

Diabate, however, simply cannot say no to his country.

And Cote d'Ivoire are glad that's the case.

The 28-year-old guard, who spent the past couple of seasons with Gravelines Dunkerque and suited up for Nancy before that, put on a dazzling display on Saturday - 48 hours after Cote d'Ivoire's blowout defeat to Cape Verde - with 17 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds in beating Zimbabwe.

He set the tone on defense, too, with 6 steals.

All of this, despite being hampered by tendinitis.

Cote d'Ivoire would have been one of the favorites to reach Rio if they had more established, high-profile players to help Diabate.

They made it to the Semi-Finals at the AfroBasket two years ago as hosts and only narrowly lost to eventual champions Angola. Senegal then edged them, 57-56, in a battle for third place to seal a spot in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

As it is, Cote d'Ivoire will have to settle for being a team that wants to be competitive.

Every win will be priceless.

Cape Verde, meanwhile, have every reason to be ambitious.

They have Jeff Xavier, the tournament's leading scorer back in 2009, and Ivan Almeida, a 26-year-old forward who had a Superman-like 18 first-half points in Cape Verde's 78-69 romp over Algeria.

The Islanders were so impressive that they led by 26 midway through the third quarter before taking their foot off the pedal.

Almeida, who is leaving Lille for fellow French Pro B side Roanne this upcoming season, hooped, scooped and slammed his way to 25 points against the Algerians.

Unlike the chaos in the Cote d'Ivoire camp before the AfroBasket, Cape Verde and the high-flying Almeida had no so distractions.

The Hammer Sharks are just playing basketball.

Cote d'Ivoire caved in against them on Thursday in the first half and on Saturday, it was Algeria's turn to collapse.

"I know no one knew us and everyone said we'd be last in our group," Almeida said.

"But we have nothing to prove.

"We're just here to play basketball."

We're just thinking of going game by game. - Almeida

Cape Verde lost Walter 'Edy' Tavares when the giant center decided not to play this summer and instead link up with the Atlanta Hawks, the team that selected him in June's NBA Draft.

The Islanders, instead of having 23-year-old, 2.2m pivot, rely on 35-year-old veteran Rodrigo Mascarenhas, an undersized center who had intended to serve an assistant coach this year.

Cape Verde boss Luis Magalhaes asked him to play and in the first two games, the team looked as good as ever, spreading the court and ripping Cote d'Ivoire and Algeria to shreds.

While Almeida knows he is going to be in France this upcoming season, Diabate isn't sure.

He cut short his contract with Gravelines to find a club in Italy or Spain.

"I just want to try a different basketball," he said, "but if my agent does not, I can go back to France."

Diabate says playing basketball in France has helped him.

"The way I like to play is the playground game that I learned in the Ivory Coast [Cote d'Ivoire]," he said.

"When I went to France, I learned another type of basketball. 

"My game is to be free, to be the crazy guy in the team, 100 percent defense and run on offense. I know I can pass the ball, I can shoot. I can do a lot of things but the basketball in Europe has really helped me in my career."

The Pro A and Pro B fans don't have to wait for the start of the new domestic season to see Diabate or Almeida.

They can watch them put on one compelling performance after another at the AfroBasket.

Jeff Taylor

FIBA

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