CAN 2023: in Ivory Coast, OM far ahead of PSG

Since January 13, the African Cup of Nations has been taking place in Ivory Coast. The opportunity for African football to come together around this celebration of the continent and to abandon club football. Beyond the Elephants, Ivorian supporters follow European football with great interest. There are many jersey shops selling the latest outfits from the major European clubs. And in this little game, like almost everywhere in Africa, the Real Madrid-Barça duo is far in front. The two Spanish clubs are the two most followed clubs in the country while the Premier League remains the flagship championship. Chelsea is also the club that seems to be emerging from the Premier League side, and we obviously all understand why…

And if the Spanish and English championship is of interest, this is also the case for our Ligue 1 which is obviously very popular here in this French-speaking country. But then which club is in the hearts of Ivorian supporters? Here, if PSG of course remains a club famous for its stars, Ivory Coast leans mainly towards the rival, OM. It is not uncommon to come across children in the streets with the Olympian crest and in particular this famous jersey from the 2010/2011 season with the band in the colors of Senegal.

OM ahead of PSG

“Here is OM. It is our favorite club, it is the club which represents us the most and which historically has left the greatest mark on us with emblematic players from the continent., tells us Franck, a taxi driver in Abidjan. Looking closer, like Chelsea before, OM have a strong argument to be the club of the country: Didier Drogba. The Ivorian legend, a true icon in the country, has greatly influenced the youth and even the elders, so obviously the supporters quickly identify with OM. “I almost died for football. In 1995, the African C1 final pitted ASEC Mimosas (Abidjan club) against Orlando Pirates. We only needed a draw to win the Cup and we lost. I was devastated and vowed not to watch that team again. Then I took a liking to OM who then got Drogba”tells us Régis, shopkeeper.

Olympique de Marseille is one of the rare clubs to have several fan clubs in different cities in Ivory Coast. And when we ask Nathan, a jersey seller near Koumassi (a district of Abidjan), about why we find the Marseille jersey in the window rather than that of PSG, the answer is categorical. “Because OM is the people’s club and it has a connection with Africa and the Ivory Coast. And always have. Even recently, we had Bamo Meité there, we had the big Eric Bailly, the little Bakari Koné. Do you know any emblematic Ivorian players who have played for PSG? Serge Aurier that’s all. Here, until this summer, people supported Lens more than PSG (laughs) (editor’s note: for Séko Fofana, now in Saudi Arabia).”

Ivory Coast, a market developed by OM

This strong bond was recently strengthened by OM by signing a three-season agreement last September with the Ivorian Ministry of Tourism through the “Sublime Côte d’Ivoire” program, the national tourism development strategy. On this occasion, President Pablo Longoria recalled the strong bond between the Marseille club and the Ivorians. “For decades, Olympique de Marseille has maintained very strong relations with Africa in general and Ivory Coast in particular. It is therefore a source of great pride for the entire club to further strengthen our links with Côte d’Ivoire and to contribute, through this partnership, to the influence of this formidable country. Since then, the “Sublime Côte d’Ivoire” brand has appeared on players’ shorts and OM training outfits.

As part of the partnership, the Marseille president also went this week to Ivory Coast to speak with Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé and attend several CAN meetings. Basile Boli, originally from Ivory Coast, and an OM delegation had already gone to Abidjan to meet the Minister of Tourism, Sandiou Fofana. They also went to meet former players and visited the many supporters present in November. And this initiative from OM has further strengthened the supporters’ love for the club. A love that is not about to fly away. Even if PSG is establishing itself more and more in Africa, Ivory Coast has clearly chosen its side…