In a surprising turn of events, Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast have decided to part ways with coach Jean-Louis Gasset, even with a potential last-16 spot within reach. The announcement of Gasset’s dismissal came just two days after a humiliating 4-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea, following a previous 1-0 loss to Nigeria. Despite the setbacks, Ivory Coast finished third in their group with three points, and the decision to sack both Gasset and his assistant, Ghislain Marie Joseph, was made public by the Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) on Wednesday.
The FIF released a statement citing “insufficient results” as the reason for terminating the contracts, aligning with the contractual objectives set for the coaching staff. This bold move raises eyebrows, especially given that Ivory Coast still stands a chance of progressing to the knockout stage. As per the AFCON format, the four best-ranked third-placed teams from the group stage advance, and Ivory Coast is currently in contention. Their fate depends on various outcomes in other groups, including Zambia’s match against Morocco and Namibia’s clash with Mali.
Ivory Coast fans are on edge as they await Wednesday’s results to determine whether their team will secure a spot in the last 16. If successful, they are set to face reigning champions Senegal, who dominated Group C with three consecutive victories. The decision to part ways with Gasset adds an extra layer of drama to Ivory Coast’s AFCON journey, creating suspense and anticipation among football enthusiasts.
