This France U18 team had avowed podium ambitions during these 3×3 world championships. She advanced like a dangerous outsider, and proved from the group stages that she had to be counted on. The Monegasque Loic Noudogbessi was part of this selection, accompanied by Loïs Grasshoff, Rudy Ekwakwe and Mathys Kangurdia. In the end, to win this title, the Blues had a flawless run with seven victories in seven games.
The United States, Slovenia, Estonia, the Dominican Republic in pool. Then Germany in the quarter, Ukraine in the half, and finally Serbia in the final. No one resisted the French, that is to say. For Loic Noudogbessi, it’s a real dream: “It’s incredible. I struggled to realize what we had done at first. When I got home, and celebrated little by little with the family, I realized what an accomplishment it was.”
“A rare player profile”
It’s a historic performance for the French U18 men’s team since, until now, only the girls had achieved such a feat. For Noudogbessi the rise is dazzling, since he was spotted last summer during the Junior League under the asemist colors by the tricolor staff. Selections followed, and so he was finally part of the four blue-white-red members.
For Anthony Christophe, who has been following him for three years within the ASM, this is a rare profile: “We launched him in 3×3 a year ago. Last year he was part of the vice-champion team of France in the Junior League. He is the kind of player who is able to defend in all positions, he has a physical profile. He is always in the right place at the right time. Defensively what he has done with the U18s is impressive.”
During the final stages Loic Noudogbessi was certainly the best defender of this competition, recovering many precious balls, and disgusting more than one of his opponents.
Now what about his future? For the main interested party, basketball 5 vs 5 remains the priority: “I really enjoyed this experience, and nothing prevents me from taking part in an adventure of this kind again in another category in the future. But above all I want to focus on the coming season with Monaco and always give the best of myself with the hopefuls. With the ambition to reach the professional world.”
