With the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) elections just months away, the electoral landscape is taking shape.
Caught between a desire for continuity and a yearning for change, three major figures have already officially declared their ambitions to lead football in Côte d’Ivoire.
The presidency of the “Glass House” in Treichville is already highly coveted. This election, which promises to be one of the most competitive in the recent history of Ivorian football, pits candidates with distinct strategies against each other.
Elected in April 2022 after an epic contest in Yamoussoukro, the incumbent president, Idriss Diallo, is naturally running for re-election. With a record marked by infrastructure modernization and strengthened governance, the current FIF president is banking on stability.
His key argument: to continue the projects already underway to
increase the international profile of Ivorian football. After narrowly
defeating Sory Diabate in the previous election, he is counting on his experience and network to seal the deal.
Facing him is Marc Zoro, a former Ivorian international, who represents a new path for former footballers.
A declared candidate since October 2025, the president of the Union of Professional Footballers of Côte d’Ivoire (UFPCI) aims to inject a dynamic of professionalization into the sport.
A former supporter of Didier Drogba in 2022, Zoro Marc seems to be drawing inspiration from the “Renaissance” project to propose a vision centered on youth development and the structuring of local clubs.
He is positioning himself for the FIF presidential election scheduled for August 2026.
Souleymane Cissé, President of Racing Club d’Abidjan (RCA), who officially announced his candidacy on February 12, 2026, offers a harsh assessment of the state of local football, lamenting the brain drain to neighboring leagues.
His ambition is to make national competitions more attractive and secure so that Ivorian stadiums can once again become venues for entertainment and national pride.
While these three candidacies are firm, the race remains open. The name of Malick Toe, current vice-president of the FIF Executive Committee, is circulating widely among party leaders and on social media.
Although no official announcement has been made, his potential entry into the race could reshuffle the cards in an election that promises to be highly charged in the wake of the World Cup.
AP/Sf/fss/gik/APA