2022-06-17, 09:17 PM - Word count:
There's a pretty good variety of teams already in the SSL, which makes it interesting to try to find places where there's a dearth of teams and could do with adding one or two more. One area that could perhaps do with a bit of filling out is West Africa; Adowa Accra is there but globally, there are several national teams with a decent impact on the world stage that come from this area. There's the northwest powerhouses Morocco and Algeria from above the Sahara, Senegal from the extremely western edge (and Mali just inside that has started to make a name for themselves, although behind the rest of this list). Along the southern border of the western part of Africa, you have Ghana (who is represented) along with Ivory Coast, Togo, just north of the coastal countries with Burkina Faso (another up and comer like Mali) and slightly further east you start to run into Cameroon and Nigeria.
Now there are two African teams, but Cairo is a whole different geographic area, type of culture, and just general feel since it's on the eastern tip. It's an African team that feels more like a Middle Eastern team. What I'd propose is a team that forms a much more natural rivalry with Accra, due to being neighbors: the Abidjan Elephants. Abidjan is the largest city in Ivory Coast both in area and population (it's not the capital, although it really ought to be, no disrespect to Yamoussoukro) and would be a natural place to host a team. The team would be called the Elephants since the CIV National Team is "Les Elephants" and elephants feature heavily in sports concepts from the area.
Former Ivorian star Didier Drogba could perhaps contribute some funding to get the team underway - we already know he's not opposed to investing in the sport (part owner of USL's Phoenix Rising) and the area (he's built a hospital in Abidjan with some of his endorsement money). Why not put those two together and invest in the sport in the area? This would give kids growing up in the area another chance to become something if they don't pan out at ASEC Mimosas, who have the best youth setup of the country. Who would deny young Ivorians a team?
Now there are two African teams, but Cairo is a whole different geographic area, type of culture, and just general feel since it's on the eastern tip. It's an African team that feels more like a Middle Eastern team. What I'd propose is a team that forms a much more natural rivalry with Accra, due to being neighbors: the Abidjan Elephants. Abidjan is the largest city in Ivory Coast both in area and population (it's not the capital, although it really ought to be, no disrespect to Yamoussoukro) and would be a natural place to host a team. The team would be called the Elephants since the CIV National Team is "Les Elephants" and elephants feature heavily in sports concepts from the area.
Former Ivorian star Didier Drogba could perhaps contribute some funding to get the team underway - we already know he's not opposed to investing in the sport (part owner of USL's Phoenix Rising) and the area (he's built a hospital in Abidjan with some of his endorsement money). Why not put those two together and invest in the sport in the area? This would give kids growing up in the area another chance to become something if they don't pan out at ASEC Mimosas, who have the best youth setup of the country. Who would deny young Ivorians a team?
<img src='https://64.media.tumblr.com/d2253a2d1d06fae39d0762375b89542d/tumblr_mte3al2cvG1qcvteuo2_250.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
