Magic System star A’Salfo takes charge of Ivorian third-tier club

Salif Traore, better known as A’Salfo and the lead singer of Magic System, has entered football after becoming the new owner of Racing Club de Koumassi in Ivory Coast.

The club is based in Koumassi, a commune in the south of Abidjan, and competes in the third division of Ivorian football. The acquisition marks A’Salfo’s first official involvement in the sport, adding football ownership to a career that has already included music, event management and property.

A’Salfo is now set to oversee the development of Racing Club de Koumassi, with his ownership representing a new direction for the club. According to Ivorian sources, one of the main priorities will be to strengthen youth development and improve the identification of emerging talent.

The singer is expected to rely in particular on an academy linked to Magic System. The proposed structure would focus on training young players and could become an important part of the club’s sporting plans.

The objective would be for the academy to act as a talent pool for Racing Club de Koumassi, while also creating a pathway between youth development and senior competition. That would allow promising players to progress from training into the club’s competitive team.

The move gives A’Salfo a direct role in football for the first time. Until now, his public career has been associated with Magic System and with activities in the events and real-estate sectors.

Racing Club de Koumassi’s location in one of Abidjan’s communes places the club at the centre of the project. Its position in the third tier provides the setting for a development-focused approach based on identifying and preparing young footballers.

The plans reported by Ivorian sources remain centred on the creation of a link between the academy and the club. The intention is to give players coming through the system a route into competitive football with Racing Club de Koumassi.

A’Salfo, whose full name is Salif Traore, is the latest figure from outside traditional football structures to become involved in the running of a club. His experience in music, event management and property now sits alongside a new responsibility in Ivorian football.

The ownership also places greater attention on Racing Club de Koumassi, which will be seeking to build its future around its base in Koumassi and the development of young players.

For A’Salfo, the acquisition represents a formal entry into football. For Racing Club de Koumassi, the proposed academy partnership offers a potential foundation for connecting player development with first-team competition.

By Ousmane Zoungrana