Ivory Coast's Football Factory

Ivory Coast's Football Factory

Often referred to as one of Africa’s top academies, the Association Sportive des Employes de Commerce Mimosas (ASEC Mimosas) is the most successful side in Ivorian football. The club, located in Abidjan, has won the Ivorian Premier Division a total of 24 times, along with the CAF Champions League in 1998.



The club’s academy has produced numerous famous players: notably Yaya Toure, Emmanuel Eboue, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho, Kolo Toure, Siaka Tiene, Lacina Traore, and Didier Ya Konan. Two thirds of the national side’s 2006 World Cup squad had come from Asec’s Sol Beni academy, founded in 1994 by Asec chairman Roger Ouegnin and former French international captain, Jean-Marc Guillou. However, in recent years there has been a lack of fan support despite league success, with players looking for the quickest way to escape to Europe.



Former players have decided to re-invest in the place where their footballing careers started, with hopes that it will become the best football club in Africa. Changes were quick to follow, with a full force marketing campaign to fill the seats once again and the board promising fans that the team will play a very entertaining style of football. A stark contrast from the current defensive nature of the squad under former manager Siaka Traore, whose contract was up at the end of last season after leading the club to the league title.

There had been a lot of interest in filling the vacancy, and the board decided to go with former player Aruna Dindane.


Dindane had just recently announced the end of his playing career after a couple of brief stints in the Qatari league. The board felt that the 32 year old former national team striker, who had been capped 62 times for his country would be the perfect choice to work with a relatively young squad.



This story will have a monthly update structure to document the rise of the club, with the goal of becoming a dynasty at the continental level.

Good Luck! Loving that you're in Africa! Ivory Coast have had some great players. --and welcome to the site!

Meet the Squad

ASEC Abidjan is a team that consists of a strong youth contingency, but that can be a major disadvantage at times when experience is can be crucial to winning or losing matches. Aruna Dindane takes over at a time when the team is in a terrible mental state after an early exit to continental football. The team has already been eliminated from the CAF Champions League back in March, losing to Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in the first round. Unfortunately we will have to wait until next March for a shot at redemption and to make a push in the competition.



The strength of the squad lies in the midfield, where our two best players reside. However, the team lacks depth at the back end and up front. Outside of the captain Stevens Koffie, there is no consistent goal scoring threat. These gaps will have to be filled early on to avoid a sluggish start to the season. None of the players currently on the squad have ever been capped for the senior national side, but we hope that someone will break that trend and join the likes of Toure and Drogba.

Top Players:

The top player on the squad is Mark Sekyere, a 22 year old defensive midfielder from Ghana. He has been with the club since 2009 and will be relied on to protect the back four.

Also in midfield we have Hugues Zagabayou, a 22 year old hometown player who has spent his whole career at the club. These two should make a very strong defensive midfield pairing.

On attack is the club's captain Stevens Koffie, also a 22 year old Ivorian. He is a decent all around striker with good finishing, but needs to work on his physical fitness if he wants to reach the next level.


Top Prospects:

The team’s talented youth squad provides great hope for the future, with one youngster in particular looking like a future star. At only 16 years of age it would not surprise me to see Constant Kouame on the senior squad very soon.

Preseason update to follow, with transfer news!

2013-06-06 17:40#109556 Okikos : Good Luck! Loving that you're in Africa! Ivory Coast have had some great players. --and welcome to the site!

Thanks! Hoping to eventually grab the national job as well, which might prove tough with the league's reputation as is.

Preseason

The preseason fixture list involved some inter-squad matches and friendlies against lower division teams from Ghana and Ivory Coast. After a very poor start, including a loss to our own reserve team and a draw against our academy, the team were able to regroup slightly and find some decent form on the road to end the preseason with 2 wins.

Transfers

Due to a nominal world scouting knowledge, it was fairly difficult to find talent from other nations. Players from more successful African teams had no real interest in joining our club because of our relatively low reputation on the continental scale. The team does not have the strength necessary to compete at a higher level at this point and it will take some time for the next generation of academy players to come through so a few signings were made. Our focus is to secure the top young footballers in our region with hopes that they will be able to grow with the club. A few youth team players were loaned out to get some first team football.


Key Signings:

Thierry Kasereka from Vita Club (DR Congo) for 1.5 million pounds: This 18 year old from the Democratic Republic of the Congo fills an immediate hole at center back and should find himself there for many years to come, which justified the large price tag.


Omoh Ojabu from Dolphins FC (Nigeria) for 900K pounds: This creative 19 year old Nigerian striker fills the squads most glaring deficiency: goal-scoring threats. He will probably come right into the starting 11.


Joel Kouadio from AFAD Djekanou (Ivory Coast) for 650K pounds: In an attempt to poach top youth players from some of our biggest competition, Kouadio is a young Ivorian brought in because of his great potential at left back.

Losing to your own Reserves... ouch!

Brilliant start and great story so far. Will definitely be following.

Oh, and welcome to FM Scout!

this will be good if u can do it well hee

Brilliant tribute story to a club so close to top class football and that many people aren't aware off. I look forward to seeing more of it.

Game 1: In his managerial debut, Aruna Dindane and company were opening up the season in front of 26,666 fans at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny. The home fans saw a very chippy encounter against the visiting side Sewe, with 8 yellow cards handed out on the day. Despite dominating the play, it wasn’t until the 73rd minute that Yacouba Bamba gave us the lead. However, with only a minute left in normal time it was Lacina Kabore who struck a late equalizer, ruining a dream start for Dindane, on only their first shot on target.
Goals: Bamba (73), Kabore (89) -- MOTM: Raphael Dje Bi Tah (7.8)



Super Cup: With a chance to start off his reign with some hardware, Dindane was worried the young squad would suffer some sort of hangover from conceding late on in the opener. 44,415 fans packed the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny to see ASEC take on Africa Sports in this edition of the Super Cup. We absolutely dominated the match with 27 shot attempts to a mere 8 from our opponents. In the 55th minute we were denied a penalty shout that could have changed the landscape of the cup. This would come back to haunt us as in the 80th minute we conceded a headed goal on what was the opposition’s first shot on target and lose 1-0.
Goals: Bamba (80) – MOTM: Nabi Kone (7.6)

Manager’s Note: Unbelievably we had conceded two goals on the only two shots that have hit the target in the first two games.. perhaps a new keeper is needed.

Game 2: We took to the road for the first time this season, where a very early 9th minute strike by Omoh Ojabu was the start we needed. This was followed by Koffie scoring in the 23rd and Mvondo matching him only 2 minutes later. Simply incredible stuff with all three goals finding the top corner in quick succession. A great performance all around to give Dindane his first win as manager.
Goals: Ojabu (9), Koffie (24), Mvondo (27) -- MOTM: Stevens Koffie (8.2)

Game 3: Week 3 saw the team make the short trip to Marcory to take on JCA (Jeunesse Club d’Abidjan). Ojabu struck first with a goal in the 23rd, but it was followed by a quick response from the opposition only a minute later. We allowed a soft goal in the 64th from a terrible angle, and another in the 69th, giving Armand Boly his brace. It was 20 minutes later when Ojabu grabbed one back in the 89th, but it proved to be too little as we went down in defeat. Once again, the takeaway from the match was that goalkeeping has to improve after allowing 3 goals on only 4 shots on target.
Goals: Boly (24,69), Sanogo (64), Ojabu (23,89) – MOTM: Omoh Ojabu (8.8)

Game 4: We returned home to take on Sabe and took control early on as Mvondo found the back of the net after a nice passing play in the 29th. 9 minutes later it was Koffie who headed one home to put the home side up 2-0. Dindane was clearly hoping his side could hold onto a lead for once, as he switched to a defensive tactic at half. Shortly after halftime, in the 55th minute, it was Ojabu to find the net, but poor defending let Sabe bring one back only a minute later. Overall, it was a very good performance to end the first four weeks of the season.
Goals: Mvondo (29), Koffie (38), Ojabu (55), Bamba (57) -- MOTM: Michel Mvondo (8.2)






Player of the Month: Omoh Ojabu – 4 goals, 1 assist in 5 matches, average rating of 7.54.

Before the transfer deadline closed, one more move was made to acquire Michel Babatunde from Kryvbas (UKR) for 1.2 million pounds. He is a 19 year old Nigerian central mid who should fit in nicely following some training injuries to this part of the squad.

2013-06-13 00:21#111848 Glenn T : Losing to your own Reserves... ouch!

Brilliant start and great story so far. Will definitely be following.

Oh, and welcome to FM Scout!

Thanks! Hopefully the squad will pick it up.

2013-06-13 01:40#111864 KingPadster : Brilliant tribute story to a club so close to top class football and that many people aren't aware off. I look forward to seeing more of it.

Thanks! That is exactly why I chose this team for my story.

Game 5: Massive fixture following the international break (Ivory Coast currently ranked 16th) against 1st place AFAD Djekanou, who have been unstoppable early on this season. It was a cracking effort by Arnaud Seka in the 18th minute that silenced the home crowd in Abidjan. Despite multiple great chances, we could not beat the opposing keeper, and were caught on a counter attack when searching for a late equalizer, resulting in a second goal being conceded.
Goals: Seka (18), Moukoro (77) -- MOTM: Thierry Kasereka (8.3)

Game 6: On a cool 9 degree evening from Issia, it was a quick goal only 2 minutes in from Ojabu that certainly warmed up the travelling ASEC fans. 17 minutes later Kasereka put home a rebound off a corner to double the lead. The dominating performance was capped off by a late goal in the 81st on the keeper’s blunder that Okan pounced on.
Goals: Ojabu (3), Kasereka (19), Okan (81) -- MOTM: Thierry Kasereka (8.4)



National Cup 2nd Round: We were heavily favoured coming into this match against lowly CO Korhog, but were given a good test. Ojabu (who else) opened the scoring in the 47th min, but the opposition answered back with a goal in the 66th. Rather embarrassing performance through the first hour, but thankfully only 3 minutes later Ablakor managed to score on a cross that inadvertently beats the keeper from 40 yards out. This one was definitely a struggle, and we were lucky to survive with a 2-1 win against such a team of such poor quality.
Goals: Ojabu (47), Kipre (66), Ablakor (70) -- MOTM: Yves Ablakor (7.6)

Game 7: Once again it was Ojabu who found the back of the net to open the scoring with a header in the 9th minute. Only 12 minutes later it was Kasekera who also continued his top form by heading home another off a corner. In the 37th minute Traore managed to tap in the third ASEC goal of the half. Quickly out of the break the onslaught continued with Bamba finding the back of the net. SO Armee was able to grab one goal back in the 55th, but it proved far too little as Opara headed home the 5th for ASEC off a free kick near the final whistle. Spectacular all around effort by ASEC in this game.
Goals: Ojabu (9), Kasereka (21), Traore (37), Bamba (48). Kouadio (55), Opara (84)
MOTM: Moussa Traore (9.3) – 1 goal, 3 assists

Game 8: It only took six minutes for us to open the scoring with an opposition own goal. 11 minutes later Zagbayou had to limp off with a serious injury. We then conceded an own goal of our own off a corner in the 34th to make it level. Just before half it was Mouen who scored his first ever goal for ASEC to give us the lead heading into the break. The team looked anxious in the final minutes trying to hold onto the small lead, and ended up conceding a controversial penalty in the 89th minute. Tough break for ASEC to only come away with a point from a game in which we were clearly the better side.
Goals: Bile (OG 6), Ojabu (OG 34), Mouen (44), Baha (Pen 89) -- MOTM: Stevens Koffie (8.4)


September has been an improvement on the struggles to start the season, but the side still has a lot to improve on. There are some signs of hope that Dindane’s attacking influence is starting to rub off on the young team that managed 12 goals in its last 4 games.





Player of the Month: Thierry Kasereka has proven to be a great piece of business by Dindane with 2 goals and a 7.8 rating in 5 games.

Goals are slowly starting to fly in and the team is moving up the table so good signs. Keep it up dude

Superb start to the story m8.
Keep it up

Game 9: October began with an important home fixture against 2nd place Stella. It was left back Dje Bi Tah who buried a shot in the back of the net at the 20 minute mark after a scramble in the box. The lead was doubled when Ojabu hit one low that beat the keeper in the 59th. Once again in the 72nd it was Ojabu who found himself open in the box and slotted his second of the night home. It was a dominant performance against a quality opponent that will be sure to please the manager and fans.
Goals: Dje Bi Tah (20), Ojabu (59, 72) -- MOTM: Ojabu (8.8)


Game 10: After a scheduling quirk and international break that gave ASEC Abidjan a 19 day break, it was a road game against ASC Ouragahio that would test us greatly. Stevens Koffie got off to a flyer only 10 minutes in with a snipe, followed by another under 4 minutes later. However, we quickly gave one back in the 20th when Norbert Diallo managed to beat Komenan. ASC was able to tie it up at twos in the 32nd on Diallo’s second of the game. Only a minute into the 2nd half it was central defender Nabi Kone who scored to give us the 3-2 lead off a corner. For once we were able to hold on to a lead in the final minutes, and left with the 3 points.
Goals: Koffie (10, 14), Diallo (20, 32), Kone (46) -- MOTM: Stevens Koffie (8.9)

Game 11: Another quick start for ASEC on the road, this time Bamba opened the scoring in the 4th minute. Only 2 minutes later it was Moussa Traore who doubled the lead to shock the home crowd. In the 23rd Traore got his brace to make it 3-0. USC Bassam managed to score at the hour mark to lower the deficit to 2. However, Bougouhi put in an insurance goal late in garbage time to complete the 4-1 dominant performance.
Goals: Bamba (4), Traore (6, 23), F. Traore (60), Bougouhi (85) -- MOTM: Traore (9.3)


October was a short month for the ASEC side, with only 3 matches played, but what a month it was. The team managed to secure the maximum nine points over the matches and did so in entertaining fashion that will be sure to have the fans piling in to watch.





Player of the Month: Moussa Traore had a great month with 2 goals, 3 assists and an 8.2 rating in 3 games. Unfortunately, the 20 year old Ivorian fractured his right arm in the final game of the month and will miss 4-5 weeks.