The day after elimination by MAS of Fez, Me Roger Ouegnin, chairman of the ASEC Mimosas board, went to Gboro Gbata to ask his players to focus on the league.
Me Roger Ouegnin, chairman of the ASEC Mimosas board, went to the Gboro Gbata training centre on Monday 26 October 2026, the day after the Mimosas’ elimination from the CAF Champions League by MAS of Fez, reports foot-africa.com.
The meeting lasted about fifteen minutes, with the club’s general manager present. The official renewed his confidence in his players and urged them to refocus on the Ivorian national league, whose resumption had been announced for the following Thursday, according to the same source.
A message of swift rallying
In front of the group, Me Roger Ouegnin did not hide his disappointment. “I can understand the great disappointment of everyone. It is the harsh reality of football. Football is sometimes cruel,” he said, according to foot-africa.com.
The official then set out the roadmap: “For this season, the Africa Cup is over. From Thursday, you start another competition, the league. It is very important, because without this competition, you will not be able to return to the Africa Cup.”
He also spoke directly to the captain: “Captain, you need to pull yourselves together right now. What happened is over! Now we must focus on the league.”
MAS of Fez got the better of the Mimosas
MAS of Fez qualified by beating ASEC Mimosas 3-2 on aggregate, with a 2-1 win in Abidjan in the second leg, according to fesnews.media.
The exit was accompanied by tensions at the final whistle, when players confronted the referee, according to foot-africa.com. Me Roger Ouegnin also addressed that episode during his visit to Gboro Gbata, though the source does not specify the exact content of his comments on the matter.
The league as a springboard
The official’s message sets a clear course: the national league, which was due to resume the following Thursday, is presented as the condition for a return to the Africa Cup. Me Roger Ouegnin stressed this insistently to his players, as relayed by foot-africa.com.