French West African Cup
Encyclopedia
The French West African Cup or Coupe d'Afrique Occidentale Française was a football (soccer)
tournament between clubs of the former French Western African territories
.
This area comprised the current states of Benin
(then Dahomey), Burkina Faso
(then Haute-Volta), Guinea
(Guinée), Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), Mali
(then Soudan), Mauritania
(Mauritanie), Niger
and Senegal
(Sénégal). The current Togo
was not part of the A.O.F. but its clubs gained entrance to the tournament during the last five editions (first in 1955/56).
The Ligue d'AOF de Foot-Ball was created in March 1946 in Dakar
. The only French Western African territory which refused to enter was Mauritania. The organisation was officially affiliated to the FFF
(French FA) in 1951.
The Coupe d'AOF was created in 1947, when the president of the Ligue d'AOF, Mr. Barat, received a trophy from the FFF. He immediately announced a competition for the trophy, a Coupe du Sénégal, for clubs from the "4 communes du Sénégal", Dakar
, Gorée
, Rufisque
and Saint-Louis
. Sixteen clubs from these towns, all in current Senegal, entered the first round (1/8 finals) of the competition, played early April 1947. On the 17th of April, a new weekly sports magazine, "Afriqu'Sports", appeared in Dakar, referring to the competition as "Coupe d'AOF". This name was eventually taken up be the other media, and the second edition then indeed extended beyond Senegal. Shortly after the introduction of the football cup, similar tournaments were started in rugby (1951) and basketball (1952).
The first edition in 1947, restricted to Senegal, had 16 participants; the highest number of participants (302) was reached in 1958/59, while the final edition (as Coupe Interfédérale; the territories of French West Africa were gradually gaining independence at the time) still had 205 participants (the regions of Guinée
and Côte d'Ivoire
did not enter).
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
tournament between clubs of the former French Western African territories
French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
.
This area comprised the current states of Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
(then Dahomey), Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
(then Haute-Volta), Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
(Guinée), Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
(then Soudan), Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
(Mauritanie), Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
and Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
(Sénégal). The current Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
was not part of the A.O.F. but its clubs gained entrance to the tournament during the last five editions (first in 1955/56).
The Ligue d'AOF de Foot-Ball was created in March 1946 in Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
. The only French Western African territory which refused to enter was Mauritania. The organisation was officially affiliated to the FFF
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...
(French FA) in 1951.
The Coupe d'AOF was created in 1947, when the president of the Ligue d'AOF, Mr. Barat, received a trophy from the FFF. He immediately announced a competition for the trophy, a Coupe du Sénégal, for clubs from the "4 communes du Sénégal", Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, Gorée
Gorée
Île de Gorée Île de Gorée Île de Gorée (i.e. "Gorée Island"; is one of the 19 communes d'arrondissement (i.e. "commune of arrondissement") of the city of Dakar, Senegal. It is a island located at sea from the main harbor of Dakar ....
, Rufisque
Rufisque
Rufisque is a city in the Dakar region of western Senegal, at the base of the Cap-Vert Peninsula. It has a population of 179,797 . In the past it was an important port city in its own right, but is now a suburb of Dakar....
and Saint-Louis
Saint-Louis, Senegal
Saint-Louis, or Ndar as it is called in Wolof, is the capital of Senegal's Saint-Louis Region. Located in the northwest of Senegal, near the mouth of the Senegal River, and 320 km north of Senegal's capital city Dakar, it has a population officially estimated at 176,000 in 2005. Saint-Louis...
. Sixteen clubs from these towns, all in current Senegal, entered the first round (1/8 finals) of the competition, played early April 1947. On the 17th of April, a new weekly sports magazine, "Afriqu'Sports", appeared in Dakar, referring to the competition as "Coupe d'AOF". This name was eventually taken up be the other media, and the second edition then indeed extended beyond Senegal. Shortly after the introduction of the football cup, similar tournaments were started in rugby (1951) and basketball (1952).
The first edition in 1947, restricted to Senegal, had 16 participants; the highest number of participants (302) was reached in 1958/59, while the final edition (as Coupe Interfédérale; the territories of French West Africa were gradually gaining independence at the time) still had 205 participants (the regions of Guinée
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
and Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
did not enter).
Winners
| Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Losing Semifinalists | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lost to eventual winner | lost to eventual runner-up | ||||
| 1947 |  US GoréeUS Gorée Union Sportive Gorée is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. They play in the top division in Senegalese football. Their home stadium is Stade Demba Diop... |
2 - 1 | ASC Jeanne d'Arc ASC Jeanne d'Arc ASC Jeanne d'Arc is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. It was founded in 1921. They play at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor.-Achievements:*Senegal Premier League: 10... |
Espoir Saint-Louis |
Espérance Rufisque |
| 1948 | Foyer France Sénégal ASC Diaraf Association Sportive et Culturelle Diaraf is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. They play in the top division in Senegalese football. Their home stadium is Stade de Diaraf... |
4 - 0 |  Jeunesse Club d'AbidjanJeunesse Club d'Abidjan Jeunesse Club d'Abidjan is an Ivorian football club based in Abidjan.-History:It was founded in 1932. They play at the Stade Robert Champroux... |
Saint-Louisienne |
Racing Club de Conakry |
| 1949 | Racing Club de Dakar |
3 - 0 |  Racing Club de Conakry |
Espoir Saint-Louis |
USC Bassam USC Bassam USC Bassam is an Ivorian football club. They play at Stade Municipal de Bassam.... |
| 1949/50 | Racing Club de Conakry |
4 - 2 | Espoir Saint-Louis |
USC Bassam USC Bassam USC Bassam is an Ivorian football club. They play at Stade Municipal de Bassam.... |
 Jeanne d'Arc (Bamako)Stade Malien Stade Malien is a Malian football and sports club based in Bamako. One of the two dominant clubs of Malian football, their eastern Bamako training grounds host other sports as well, including a successful basketball club.-Football club:... |
| 1950/51 | ASC Jeanne d'Arc ASC Jeanne d'Arc ASC Jeanne d'Arc is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. It was founded in 1921. They play at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor.-Achievements:*Senegal Premier League: 10... |
3 - 1 | Jeanne d'Arc (Bamako) Stade Malien Stade Malien is a Malian football and sports club based in Bamako. One of the two dominant clubs of Malian football, their eastern Bamako training grounds host other sports as well, including a successful basketball club.-Football club:... |
Africa Sports Africa Sports Africa Sports National is an Ivorian football club based in Abidjan. It was founded in 1948. They play at the Stade Houphouet-Boigny.... |
US Indigène |
| 1951/52 | ASC Jeanne d'Arc ASC Jeanne d'Arc ASC Jeanne d'Arc is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. It was founded in 1921. They play at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor.-Achievements:*Senegal Premier League: 10... |
2 - 0 |  Etoile Sportive Porto Novo |
Africa Sports Africa Sports Africa Sports National is an Ivorian football club based in Abidjan. It was founded in 1948. They play at the Stade Houphouet-Boigny.... |
Foyer France Sénégal ASC Diaraf Association Sportive et Culturelle Diaraf is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. They play in the top division in Senegalese football. Their home stadium is Stade de Diaraf... |
| 1952/53 | Jeanne d'Arc (Bamako) Stade Malien Stade Malien is a Malian football and sports club based in Bamako. One of the two dominant clubs of Malian football, their eastern Bamako training grounds host other sports as well, including a successful basketball club.-Football club:... |
3 - 1 | Racing Club de Conakry |
US Gorée US Gorée Union Sportive Gorée is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. They play in the top division in Senegalese football. Their home stadium is Stade Demba Diop... |
Jeunesse Club d'Abidjan Jeunesse Club d'Abidjan Jeunesse Club d'Abidjan is an Ivorian football club based in Abidjan.-History:It was founded in 1932. They play at the Stade Robert Champroux... |
| 1953/54 | US Gorée US Gorée Union Sportive Gorée is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. They play in the top division in Senegalese football. Their home stadium is Stade Demba Diop... |
1 - 0 | Foyer du Soudan Djoliba AC Djoliba Athletic Club is a Malian football club and one of the two biggest teams in Mali alongside the Stade Malien. The team is based in the capital city of Bamako. It has its headquarters and three training stadia at Complex Sportif Hérémakono, in the Heremakono Quartier... |
Etoile Sportive Porto-Novo |
Racing Club de Conakry |
| 1954/55 | US Gorée US Gorée Union Sportive Gorée is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. They play in the top division in Senegalese football. Their home stadium is Stade Demba Diop... |
7 - 0 | ASEC Abidjan |
AS Porto-Novo |
Avenir Saint-Louis |
| 1955/56 | Jeanne d'Arc (Bamako) Stade Malien Stade Malien is a Malian football and sports club based in Bamako. One of the two dominant clubs of Malian football, their eastern Bamako training grounds host other sports as well, including a successful basketball club.-Football club:... |
3 - 0 | ASEC Abidjan |
Foyer France Sénégal ASC Diaraf Association Sportive et Culturelle Diaraf is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. They play in the top division in Senegalese football. Their home stadium is Stade de Diaraf... |
 Essor |
| 1956/57 | Réveil de Saint-Louis |
4 - 1 | Africa Sports Africa Sports Africa Sports National is an Ivorian football club based in Abidjan. It was founded in 1948. They play at the Stade Houphouet-Boigny.... |
Etoile Filante (Lomé) Étoile Filante de Lomé Étoile Filante de Lomé is a professional Togolese football club based in Lomé. Their home stadium is Stade Oscar Anthony. The club name translates as "Shooting Star of Lomé" and are known locally as "The Meteors".... |
Jeanne d'Arc (Bamako) Stade Malien Stade Malien is a Malian football and sports club based in Bamako. One of the two dominant clubs of Malian football, their eastern Bamako training grounds host other sports as well, including a successful basketball club.-Football club:... |
| 1957/58 | Africa Sports Africa Sports Africa Sports National is an Ivorian football club based in Abidjan. It was founded in 1948. They play at the Stade Houphouet-Boigny.... |
5 - 0 | ASEC Abidjan |
Foyer France Sénégal ASC Diaraf Association Sportive et Culturelle Diaraf is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. They play in the top division in Senegalese football. Their home stadium is Stade de Diaraf... |
Société Sportive de Guinée |
| 1958/59 |  Saint-Louisienne |
2 - 1 |  Modèle Lomé |
Stella d'Abidjan Stella Club d'Adjamé Stella Club d'Adjamé is an Ivorian football club based in Abidjan.-History:It was founded in 1953 in a fusion between Red Star, Etoile d'Adjamé and US Bella... |
ASC Jeanne d'Arc ASC Jeanne d'Arc ASC Jeanne d'Arc is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. It was founded in 1921. They play at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor.-Achievements:*Senegal Premier League: 10... |
| 1960 | Etoile Filante (Lomé) Étoile Filante de Lomé Étoile Filante de Lomé is a professional Togolese football club based in Lomé. Their home stadium is Stade Oscar Anthony. The club name translates as "Shooting Star of Lomé" and are known locally as "The Meteors".... |
2 - 1 |  Jeanne d'Arc (Bamako)Stade Malien Stade Malien is a Malian football and sports club based in Bamako. One of the two dominant clubs of Malian football, their eastern Bamako training grounds host other sports as well, including a successful basketball club.-Football club:... |
AS Cotonou |
Saint-Louisienne |