The Ivory Coast national team have relieved head coach Jean-Louis Gasset of his duties following a poor group stage performance that has put the team’s qualification under serious threats.
The sacking comes just two days after the Elephants’ 4-0 annihilation by Equatorial Guinea in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations they are hosting.
“The contracts of coach Jean-Louis Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant are terminated due to insufficient results,” the FIF said in a statement.
Ivory Coast finished third in Group E, recording one win and two defeats and their fate hangs in a balance.
The two-time champions need results to go in their favour in Wednesday’s final group matches to reach the knock-out phase as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Gasset had been in charge since March 2022 and led the team through the qualifiers to reach the continental finals. But a disastrous 4-0 thrashing by Equatorial Guinea in their final group match sealed the 68-year-old Frenchman’s fate.
Ivory Coast opened their AFCON campaign with a narrow 3-1 loss to defending champions Algeria. They bounced back by beating Sierra Leone 2-1 in their second match.
However, needing just a draw against Equatorial Guinea to progress, the Ivorians suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat. The result put them on the brinks of elimination as one of the worst third-placed teams.
As hosts of the expanded 24-team tournament, Ivory Coast had high hopes of making an impact. But Gasset has paid the price for their shaky state.
Gasset’s assistant Emerse Fae has been placed in temporary charge until a permanent replacement is found ahead of their AFCON qualifiers in March.
The 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea result the country’s heaviest ever home defeat.
Gasset was in his first international coaching job, having spent the rest of his career in France.
His former teams include Montpellier, Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne.
