AFCON 2023: Here’s why Ivory Coast sacked their coach, despite the fact that the competition is still ongoing
Ivory Coast Shocks Fans With Mid-Tournament Coaching Change Amid AFCON 2023
In a surprising turn of events during the ongoing AFCON 2023, Ivory Coast has made a bold decision to part ways with their coach, Jean-Louis Gasset. The unexpected move follows the team’s 4-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea, marking the heaviest home defeat in Ivory Coast’s football history.
Despite the setback, Ivory Coast managed to secure a spot in the last 16 as Morocco’s victory over Zambia allowed them to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
However, the stunning decision to relieve Gasset of his coaching duties indicates the high expectations and pressure on the host nation.
The Elephants, now under the interim leadership of Emerse Fae, one of Gasset’s coaches, face a formidable challenge in the knockout stages against the undefeated champions, Senegal.
This sudden coaching change marks Ivory Coast as the first AFCON host since 1984 to lose two group games.
The Ivory Coast Football Federation justified the decision, stating that the contracts of the 70-year-old Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant were terminated “due to insufficient results.”
The team’s performance in the group stage included a 2-0 victory against Guinea-Bissau and a 1-0 loss to Nigeria, in addition to the heavy defeat against Equatorial Guinea.
Jean-Louis Gasset, who took over as coach in May 2022, succeeded Patrice Beaumelle, and the coaching change aimed to bring fresh perspectives after Ivory Coast’s disappointment in the 2022 World Cup qualification and the previous Nations Cup in Cameroon.
Ivory Coast now faces uncertainties as they navigate the knockout stages with a new coaching setup, leaving fans and football enthusiasts eager to witness how this surprising change will impact their AFCON 2023 journey.
On Wednesday, January 24th, 2024, the Ivory Coast, hosts of the Africa Cup of Nations, made the abrupt decision to dismiss coach Jean-Louis Gasset mid-tournament, as confirmed by the country’s football federation (FIF).
“The contracts of coach Jean-Louis Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant are terminated due to insufficient results,” the FIF said in a statement.
