By James Copnall BBC Sport Online

The news that Asec Abidjan are the Ivorian champions should surprise no one.

Not only is it their third title in a row, and their eighteenth in total, it is, incredibly, the Abidjan club's 11th championship in 13 years.

If Asec has dominated Ivorian football, it should also be remembered that they won the African Champions league in 1998.

So how did the club become the dominant force in Ivorian football?

Asec clinch title

Kolo Toure, now at Arsenal, used to play for ASEC

Asec's incredible run of titles can be put down to the arrival of one man.

When lawyer Roger Ouegnin became the club's president in November 1989, Asec had not won the league for a decade.

He instilled a professional mentality at the club, which had resulted in continued success for one of the best run outfits on the continent.

Asec have a youth academy which is the envy of teams the world over.

Recent graduates include Arsenal's Kolo Toure and Anderlecht's Aruna Dindane.

They also has a well manicured training ground, Sol Beni ("Blessed Earth"), which has attracted teams like Nigeria's Super Eagles to use it as a base to prepare for important matches.

In its 13 years of league dominance, ASEC has been a home for some of African football's biggest names.

French coach Philippe Troussier was a huge hit at the beginning of the 1990s, before going on to manage Nigeria and South Africa.

Ivorians such as Toure and Tcherissoua Guel made their names and moved to Europe, but one who remained will be an integral part of the club's history.

Goalkeeper Losseni Konate signed for Asec in 1989, and played a part in every one of their 11 wins.

In the age of the nomadic footballer, his dedication is a rare commodity in the African club game.