Yacine Idriss Diallo is set to run unopposed for a second term as president of the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF), but his uncontested bid has failed to ease tensions within the organisation ahead of next month’s election.
The FIF’s electoral commission listed Diallo as the only eligible candidate for the presidency in its provisional list published on Aug. 14. The election is scheduled to take place on Sept. 12 in Yamoussoukro, subject to the completion of the electoral process and any appeals.
Diallo, who was elected president in 2022, is seeking to extend his tenure after a period marked by major successes for Ivorian football. Under his leadership, the national team won the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 2024 and qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
His return as the sole presidential candidate follows the withdrawal or absence of several potential challengers. Malick Tohé, who had previously been presented as a possible rival, ultimately joined Diallo’s team. Other candidates announced during the campaign did not appear on the provisional presidential list.
But the lack of an electoral challenger has not eliminated divisions within the federation. Jeune Afrique has reported a violent altercation between two FIF vice-presidents, highlighting tensions within Diallo’s camp and deeper disagreements over the federation’s governance.
The new executive team includes 24 candidates, according to the provisional list released by the electoral commission. The composition of the team has also generated debate, with several figures from the outgoing leadership absent from the new slate and other personalities joining Diallo’s proposed executive committee.
The September election is therefore unlikely to be a competitive contest for the presidency. Instead, it will test Diallo’s ability to consolidate his leadership and bring together the different factions within the country’s football administration.
For the FIF, the challenge extends beyond securing another mandate. With Côte d’Ivoire preparing for future international competitions and having recently secured major successes on the pitch, the federation will also face pressure to resolve internal divisions and strengthen the governance of Ivorian football.
