Cote d’Ivoire will have no representatives in the group stages of either of the CAF’s two men’s club competitions in 2026-27 after ASEC Mimosas, FC San Pedro, AFAD du Plateau and CO Korhogo were all eliminated in the second preliminary round.
The four clubs had remained in contention after the first legs, which produced one win and three draws. But defeats in each of the return matches on 24 and 25 October ended their African campaigns. ASEC Mimosas and FC San Pedro were knocked out of the Champions League, while AFAD du Plateau and CO Korhogo exited the Confederation Cup.
The return-leg record was four defeats, two goals scored and seven conceded. However, the circumstances varied from tie to tie, making it difficult to draw a single conclusion about the state of Ivorian football.
ASEC Mimosas came closest to progressing after their 1-1 draw in Morocco. At the Stade Felix-Houphouet-Boigny on Sunday, 25 October, Christopher Ibayi put MAS de Fes ahead in the 62nd minute, but Bakare Kevin levelled 11 minutes later.
With the tie heading towards a penalty shootout, Khalid Baba scored in the 90th+7 minute to give MAS de Fes a 2-1 victory in Abidjan and a 3-2 aggregate success. ASEC, African champions in 1998, will need to assess how they managed the closing stages of a match that was still undecided deep into stoppage time, including their positioning, risk-taking and late tactical decisions.
CO Korhogo also remained in the contest until the final stages of their match in Rabat. After a goalless first leg, Youssef El Fahli gave AS FAR the lead from the penalty spot before Diby Berneger equalised for the Calaos in the 54th minute. Anas Bach scored the decisive goal in the 83rd minute, sending AS FAR through with a 2-1 aggregate victory.
FC San Pedro had started the second leg with an advantage after winning 2-1 at home. That lead disappeared in Mauritania on Sunday, however, as FC Nouadhibou won 2-0 through goals from Kartier Dembele and Cheikh Hattab. The hosts advanced 3-2 on aggregate.
AFAD du Plateau’s tie turned early on Saturday, 24 October, when Iyed Belwafi scored for CS Sfaxien after seven minutes. The Academiciens could not find an equaliser and, following a 1-1 draw in Abidjan, lost 2-1 on aggregate.
The results point to two teams unable to score in the second leg and two others that levelled before conceding late. They highlight the need to improve both attacking responses and control of decisive moments, rather than suggesting one explanation for all four eliminations.
Africa Sports won the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1999, but no Ivorian men’s club has since lifted one of CAF’s major inter-club trophies. Sewe Sport reached the Confederation Cup final in 2014, while ASEC reached the semi-finals in 2023, the Champions League quarter-finals in 2024 and the Confederation Cup quarter-finals in 2025.
The latest setback should lead to a detailed review of each club’s preparation, including squad continuity, scheduling, player availability, coaching and travel arrangements. Budgets and recruitment decisions also require examination before financial resources or the standard of the domestic league are presented as definitive explanations.
The clubs and football authorities now have specific results to analyse, with the aim of identifying required changes, those responsible for implementing them and clear deadlines.
