A’Salfo, the lead singer of Ivorian group Magic System, is adding football to his growing portfolio of cultural, social and entrepreneurial activities after acquiring the Racing Club de Koumassi, a third-division club based in Abidjan.

The acquisition, reported by Jeune Afrique on August 27, puts one of Côte d’Ivoire’s best-known cultural figures into a football industry where ownership has increasingly attracted politicians, business leaders and other influential figures.

The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

The Racing Club de Koumassi currently plays in Côte d’Ivoire’s third division. The club, based in the southern Abidjan municipality of Koumassi, is expected to become closely linked to the Magic System Academy, creating a potential pathway between youth development and competitive football.

A’Salfo has also brought in French coach Denis Goavec, a former coach of Benin’s national team, as sporting director. His task will be to help structure the sporting project and develop the club.

The ambition appears to go beyond simply owning a football team. The project is expected to focus on developing young players and building a more structured pathway from academy football to senior competition.

A’Salfo’s move comes as football ownership in Côte d’Ivoire increasingly extends beyond traditional sporting circles.

Politicians, business executives and entrepreneurs have invested in clubs across the country, where football can serve not only as a commercial venture but also as a vehicle for youth development, local visibility and social influence.

The Racing Club de Koumassi therefore gives A’Salfo a presence in an industry where sporting ambitions and broader networks often intersect.

For the artist, the move is another step in a career that has expanded well beyond music.

Through Magic System, Gaou Productions and the Fondation Magic System, A’Salfo has built activities spanning music production, entertainment, social initiatives and education. The foundation has announced plans to open five new schools in Côte d’Ivoire in 2026.

Buying a club is only the beginning.

Racing Club de Koumassi now faces the challenge of professionalizing its administration, strengthening its sporting structure, developing its academy and eventually climbing the Ivorian football pyramid.

The project will also require sustained financing and partnerships if the club is to move from the third division toward the Ligue 2 and eventually the top flight.

A’Salfo’s visibility could provide an immediate advantage in attracting attention, sponsors and young talent. But football remains a results-driven business, and the success of the project will ultimately be measured on the pitch.

For A’Salfo, the acquisition marks a striking transition.

The man who helped take Magic System from Abidjan to international stages is now entering another arena built around mass popularity and local identity.

At Koumassi, the challenge will be to turn that cultural influence into a sustainable sporting project.

The stakes are therefore larger than a club in the third division.

If the project succeeds, A’Salfo could build a model linking entertainment, youth development and football while adding a new dimension to the growing influence of private owners in Côte d’Ivoire’s football industry.

For now, one thing is clear: after conquering the music scene, A’Salfo is taking his next major gamble on the football pitch.