[2] The club was created in 1960 by a fusion of "Africa Sport" Bamako and "Foyer du Soudan", two successful teams during French Colonial rule.

The team was helped a lot during the 1970s by officer Tiécoro Bagayoko, a prominent member of the ruling military dictatorship of president Moussa Traoré.

Many critics of Djoliba AC, especially coming from the rival Stade Malien, claim that the strength of the club was built during that period.

They began the season successfully, taking the Super Coupe National du Mali on 6 December against Club Olympique de Bamako 5–2.

Djoliba appeared at group stage in the 2012 CAF Confederation Cup, they challenged with AC Léopards of the Republic of the Congo, Morocco's WAC Casablanca and brought Mali's largest rivalry to the cup competition, Stade Malien, Djoliba defeat that club in two matches.

In the 2017 season, Djoliba was 8th place and had two wins and a draw and had seven points before the abandonment as FEMAFOOT was dissolved by the government mainly by an undetermined reason on 9 March, over a week later, FIFA suspended the Malian Football Federation on 17 March which meant all Malian clubs competing at the continental level were banned until 7 May.

[8][9] as of 8 April 2014[11] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.

Djoliba AC also fields both a men's and women's basketball team that play in the Ligue 1, the top national divisions.