Ligue d’Or Playoffs 2026: ABC, JCA and Hypersonics advance as SOA survives thrilling Game 3 against AZUR
The 2026 N1 Ligue d’Or 1XBET playoffs got off to a dramatic start at the Hall 1 of the Palais des Sports de Treichville. From dominant sweeps to major upsets and a thrilling three-game battle between SOA and AZUR, the quarterfinals delivered high-level intensity before the race for the championship moved into the semifinals.
The most competitive series of the quarterfinals featured SOA and AZUR. AZUR drew first blood with a dramatic 77-75 victory in Game 1 behind an outstanding performance from Alla Atoulé, who finished with 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. However, the Soldiers responded strongly in Game 2, defeating AZUR 86-78 to level the series at 1-1. The decisive Game 3 on Monday, May 25, turned into a fierce battle before SOA relied on its experience to secure a hard-fought 73-69 victory and punch its ticket to the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Abidjan Basket Club (ABC) completely dominated its matchup against CBA. ABC controlled the series from start to finish, winning 71-43 in Game 1 before closing things out with an emphatic 86-56 victory in Game 2. Malick Souaré stood out early in the series with an impressive double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds as ABC confirmed its status as one of the title favorites.
The JCA Kings also made a strong statement against Fusion. The Kings crushed their opponents 77-47 in the opening game thanks to a dominant performance from captain Kra Ulrich, who posted 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists for a game-high efficiency rating of 30. Fusion showed more resistance in the second matchup, but JCA remained in control and completed the sweep with an 80-71 victory to advance to the semifinals.
The biggest surprise of the quarterfinals came from Hypersonics. Facing ASA, the student-based squad displayed resilience and composure to win both games of the series. After taking Game 1 by a score of 71-66 behind Nathan Jako’s 18-point performance, Hypersonics sealed qualification with a dramatic 73-68 overtime victory in Game 2.
2026 Playoff Semifinal Matchups
Men
ABC vs SOA
JCA Kings vs Hypersonics
Women
FBA vs GSPM
ABC vs SOA
The semifinals are scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 28, 2026, with several highly anticipated matchups expected to raise the intensity even further in the race for the national title.