LTT Sports spoke with Benoit You, the Director of ASEC Mimosas, to gain deeper insights into the club’s reality in Africa and specifically in Côte d’Ivoire.
In recent years, it seems fewer players are emerging from the Ivorian talent factory at younger ages compared to the 2000s and 2010s. Is this due to having a golden generation back then, or has the club’s approach changed to retain players domestically for longer?
The ASEC Mimosas training centre, having pioneered in Africa with quality-trained players (Yaya Touré, Kolo Touré, Gervinho, Salomon Kalou, Didier Zokora, Aruna Dindane, etc.), set a benchmark and paved the way for many similar projects across Africa. Our club continues to emphasise this path, transferring numerous talents, both national and international.
However, we’ve seen two main developments:
1. The emergence of quality training centres across Africa, leading to increased competition in identifying and developing young talents.
2. A deliberate strategy by ASEC to retain some of our best talents for a longer duration, strengthening our domestic team and setting an example for African clubs.
How can Africa tackle the challenge of preventing talented players from choosing to represent European nations over their African origins? How can local academies and clubs make the idea of playing for one’s homeland more appealing?
A two-pronged strategy could help address this challenge:
1. Better Governance: Ensuring good governance in African football federations, guaranteeing regular participation in international competitions and offering optimal conditions to players. This can incentivise players to represent their countries of origin.
2. Improved Facilities & Competitive Leagues: Players often move abroad in search of better facilities, coaching and competition. Strengthening domestic leagues, investing in facilities and providing top-notch coaching can retain talent and also encourage those abroad to play for their home countries.
It’s essential to note that players’ decisions are often influenced by various factors, including professional aspirations, lifestyle and personal situations. African federations must collaborate with clubs and academies to create an environment conducive to retaining and attracting talent.
Do you believe that Africa can win a FIFA World Cup in the coming decade? Which countries, in your opinion, have the potential to achieve this milestone?
Yes, Africa has the potential to win a FIFA World Cup in the coming decade. Historically, several African teams have showcased tremendous potential: Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, Ghana in 2010. Given the vast talent pool and increasing investments in training centres and governance, this dream is achievable.
Countries like Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Algeria have shown consistent performances and have the infrastructure, talent and governance to reach such a milestone. With the right preparation, planning and execution, any of these nations could become World Cup champions.
What are the main challenges that professional African clubs are currently facing that are not allowing them to develop faster?
The challenges are not the same depending on the countries and clubs, each experiencing a different reality. However, if we talk about Sub-Saharan African clubs and particularly those in West Africa, which undoubtedly have the largest reservoir of talented players in Africa, their main challenge to reposition themselves on the continental chessboard is through better organisation and a clearly established development strategy, in consultation with national authorities. In this regard, the example set on the continent by Morocco is quite enlightening to serve as a benchmark, each on its scale and depending on its means and ambitions.
Indeed, better performances of our clubs depend on the quality of player training (and coaching staff), the quality of national leagues (organisation, structuring of clubs, quality of infrastructure, especially competition stadiums), and the quality of broadcasting our matches. This is to make our national competitions more attractive and more competitive compared to their European counterparts, which remain the most watched by football fans in Africa. It’s a very competitive market, and to stand out, it’s essential to elevate the standards in all these domains.