ASEC Mimosas 2023/24: Identifying the Ivorian giants’ most exciting youth prospects – scout report

The Ivory Coast is a nation with a rich footballing heritage and has produced a plethora of talented players who have each left their mark on the global stage. One such luminary is Didier Drogba. The legendary strikers physical prowess, clinical finishing, and leadership qualities made him an iconic figure in the football world. Drogba played a pivotal role in Chelseas success during his time with the club, helping secure the Premier League title on four occasions and the UEFA Champions League.

Another prominent figure from the Ivory Coast is Yaya Touré, who, of course, enjoyed immense success with Manchester City and Barcelona. Additionally, he captained the national team to their 2015 African Cup of Nations win.

When we talk about football in Ivory Coast, we have to mention ASEC Mimosas  the highly prominent club based in Abidjan. The club was founded in 1948 and has since become one of the continents most successful and widely recognised football institutions. Known for its distinctive yellow and black colours, ASEC Mimosas has consistently been a powerhouse in Ivorian and African football.

Most famously, the aforementioned Yaya and his brother, Kolo Touré, spent their youth careers with ASEC before moving to Europe. Gervinho and Emmanuel Eboué are two players who have also donned the iconic shirt of the 29-time Ligue 1 champions.

In this tactical analysis and scout report, we will use EYEBALL to identify some of the most exciting prospects in the ASEC Mimosas youth system. We will highlight how they fit into the tactics of the youth teams and showcase what makes them such promising young players. 

Mohamed Abdul Kader Kone

The first player we will look at in this analysis piece is U20 central midfielder Mohamed Abdul Kader Kone. The 16-year-old has put in some impressive performances and has been unfazed by the step up from U17 to U20 level. 

Kone is a central midfielder who is very intelligent in his movements and ball-carrying ability. He loves to drift into half-spaces and wide areas to receive the ball. This adds an element of surprise to ASEC Mimosas U20s attacking play. Kones ability to drift into wider areas to pick up possession forces the opposing defenders to adjust their positions, creating spaces and openings in the middle for other attacking players to exploit.