LONACI gave CFA 60 million to 15 sports clubs in Côte d'Ivoire for the 2026-2027 season, at a ceremony in Abidjan. That is a 25% rise on last year's total, not the doubling some reports claimed.
What LONACI actually paid
LONACI's director general, Dramane Coulibaly, handed out four million FCFA to each of 15 clubs, up from three million FCFA per club the previous season. The clubs include Africa Sports d'Abidjan, Magic Basketball Club, Cocody Académie Football and One Day Académie Football. Last season's round, in October 2025, gave 48 million FCFA to 12 clubs. The maths: 48 million to 60 million is a 25% rise, and the club count went from 12 to 15, not a double.
One rival report headlined the move as LONACI "doubling" its sports support. Neither the per-club figure nor the total backs that word, and we found no source that explains it. We checked both rounds' numbers before writing this.
Why a state lottery backs grassroots clubs
Côte d'Ivoire runs its lottery and sports betting through LONACI's state concession, and small grants to local clubs are a cheap way to keep the brand visible in towns a national ad campaign does not reach. It is the same logic operators in Kenya and Nigeria use when they sponsor county leagues rather than only national teams: goodwill with a federation can matter more to a regulator than a billboard does.
What to watch
LONACI has raised this grant every season since at least 2024. If the per-club rate keeps climbing past four million FCFA next season, that is a clearer signal of intent than any single year's total.
FAQ
How much did LONACI give, in total?
60 million FCFA, split across 15 clubs for the 2026-2027 season.
Did LONACI double its funding?
No. The total rose 25% and the per-club grant rose from three to four million FCFA.
Which clubs were funded?
15 clubs, including Africa Sports d'Abidjan, Magic Basketball Club, Cocody Académie Football and One Day Académie Football.
