On the eve of Olympique de Marseille’s arrival in Côte d’Ivoire as part of the Summer Tour Abidjan 2026, Minister of Tourism and Leisure Siandou Fofana called on the Ivorian people to give a memorable welcome to the delegation of more than 80 people, including players, coaching staff, executives and medical personnel.

Joined by Minister of Culture and Francophonie Françoise Remarck and Minister of Sports Adjé Silas Metch, he made the appeal during a press conference held on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Abidjan-Plateau.

“OM, a renowned French football club and the first French club to win the UEFA Champions League, has chosen Côte d’Ivoire for its training camp on the shores of the Ébrié Lagoon, in line with the objectives of our partnership under the ‘Sublime Côte d’Ivoire’ strategy. We must demonstrate our renowned hospitality by creating the best possible conditions for their stay. Help us make these moments truly memorable,” Siandou Fofana said.

According to the minister, the visit will also serve as an opportunity to showcase Côte d’Ivoire’s tourism and cultural assets.

“Together, culture and sports diplomacy can give new momentum to our tourism sector and further enhance the attractiveness of Côte d’Ivoire as a destination. We also want our culture to travel beyond our borders. OM, which has a community of 25 million supporters, will undertake activities that will give greater visibility to Ivorian culture, our tourism industry and our leisure sector,” he said.

He added: “We want Côte d’Ivoire to be recognized as a destination for film production, a land of hope and opportunity, and above all, a country where life is good.”

Beyond tourism and culture, Olympique de Marseille will also carry out several social initiatives.

“A full delegation is arriving, including influencers, journalists and other personalities. They will visit social centers, the Children's Village, the Bingerville Mother and Child Hospital, and an orphanage,” the minister said.

Françoise Remarck said Ivorian culture would be prominently featured during the visit through the performance of the Zaouli dance, which is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Ivorian gastronomy will also be showcased, notably through attiéké, which, like the Zaouli dance, is recognized by UNESCO as part of the world's cultural heritage.

For Adjé Silas Metch, culture, tourism and sport all contribute to strengthening the country's international profile.

“The arrival of Olympique de Marseille is an opportunity to enhance Côte d’Ivoire’s international visibility and to build new partnerships in the tourism, cultural and creative industries,” he said.

Olympique de Marseille will stay in Abidjan from July 15 to July 18, 2026. The program includes an open training session for the public, youth workshops on civic values, a gala match against Yamoussoukro FC at Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium, broadcast live, a friendly match between members of the Ivorian government and Marseille’s coaching staff, guided tourism tours, a gala evening, meetings with supporters, and the discovery of Ivorian crafts and gastronomy.

The partnership between the Ivorian government and the French football club was launched in 2023 with the aim of promoting Côte d’Ivoire as a leading tourism destination.