AFCON 2023: Côte d’Ivoire sacks Gasset, appoints Faé as interim amidst qualification hope

The Ivorian national team’s AFCON 2023 campaign took an unexpected turn on Tuesday as the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) announced the termination of head coach Jean-Louis Gasset’s contract with immediate effect.

Gasset’s assistant coach, Ghislain Printant, was also let go.

In a statement on social media, the FIF said that the decision to terminate Gasset’s contract was made due to “insufficient results, in accordance with the objective contract that linked them to the FIF.”

“The Ivorian Football Federation expresses its regret for the journey of ELEPHANTS during the group stage of CAN 2023,” the FIF said in its statement.

Emerse Faé, who was previously serving as one of the assistant coach, will take over on an interim basis while the FIF opens a recruitment process for a new head coach.

Faé, a former midfielder with experience at clubs such as Nantes and Nice, will assume the reins of Ivory Coast in the middle of the tournament, with a potential round of sixteen clash against Senegal on the horizon.

The decision comes after a disappointing group stage performance by the Elephants, who are currently third in Group B with three points from three matches.

They need a favorable outcome in today’s final group games to have any chance of advancing to the knockout stage as one of the four best third-placed teams.

Sacked or Resigned?

The exact circumstances surrounding his departure remain unclear, with conflicting sources suggesting either Gasset’s resignation or a decision by the President of the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF), Yacine Idriss Diallo, to terminate his mission.

This decision comes as the national team is still in contention for a possible qualification for the AFCON’s round of sixteen. The French coach, who has faced criticism since the start of the tournament, will not lead the Elephants in this crucial phase.