AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast Boss Jean Louis Gasset Sacked, Successor Named Should They Qualify for R16

• Ivory Coast have parted ways with head coach Jean Louis-Gasset
• Gasset was sacked after the country's shocking loss to Eq. Guinea
• Their hopes of qualifying for the next round of the AFCON remain faint

Jean Louis Gasset, the head coach of Ivory Coast, has been fired following his team's humiliating defeat against Equatorial Guinea in the ongoing 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations.

Gasset's side, tasked to win the biennial competition on home soil, fell short of expectations, suffering losses in two out of three group-stage matches.

Despite being initially considered among the favourites for the 34th edition of the AFCON, consecutive defeats to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea have significantly diminished their prospects of clinching a third championship.

Jean Louis Gasset sacked

Gasset's final game in charge saw his side suffer a 4-0 defeat to the Nzalang Nacional. This loss stands as the country's most substantial defeat on home soil, France24 reports.

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In the interim, Emerse Fae is set to assume the role of head coach if Ivory Coast manages to qualify for the round of 16.

"The contracts of coach Jean-Louis Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant are terminated due to insufficient results," the Ivorian FA (FIF) said in a statement, per Koaci.

Gasset's departure aligns with a trend of coaches resigning or being dismissed due to early exits, echoing the actions of Tom Saintfeit (The Gambia) and Chris Hughton (Ghana).

Ivory Coast's qualification hanging on a thread

Presently positioned as one of the third-best-placed teams, Ivory Coast's advancement to the next round of the competition hinges on favourable outcomes from other nations.

The Elephants require Namibia to lose their final group game against Mali, and Zambia must also face defeat against Morocco for Ivory Coast to progress to the next phase.

Any deviation from these permutations would mark the 2023 AFCON hosts as the first host nation to exit the group stages since Gabon in 2017.

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Ghana sacks Chris Hughton

Sports Brief also reported that Ghana's national team head coach, Hughton, has been relieved of his duties after the team's group-stage exit from the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) conveyed appreciation for the 65-year-old's services and mentioned that details regarding Hughton's successor would be disclosed in due course, as stated in an official release on the GFA's website following Monday night's draw.