Seko Fofana: Ivory Coast Star Pays Glowing Tribute to Sacked Coach Ahead of AFCON Final

• Seko Fofana has praised former coach Jean-Loius Gasset
• Gasset was dismissed halfway into the Africa Cup of Nations
• Ivory Coast will face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the final

Seko Fofana has acknowledged the role played by French manager Jean-Louis Gasset as Ivory Coast reached the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Gasset was sacked after the first round following a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in the final game of Group A.

The host nation had to wait for results from other games to determine their fate at the competition on home soil.

Fortunately for the host nation, they sneaked into the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams and have since eliminated champions Senegal and Mali, and defeated DR Congo in the semis.

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Ivory Coast will face Nigeria in the final at the Alassane Outtara Stadium in Ebimpe.

Ahead of the match on Sunday, Fofona took the opportunity to express gratitude to the French coach, insisting he played a role in their run at the tournament.

“He also participates in this victory," he said, as quoted by 13 Football. “As I have always said, we have a lot of gratitude for what he was able to do with the group,” he added.

“I think we are continuing his work. He selected the group. Today, maybe we had to go through this ordeal to give this team a start but I honestly think that if he had been there, it would have been the same thing too.

“Today we have a big thought for him and I know he has a big thought for us. The goodbyes were difficult, with a lot of emotion, tears and also a lot of words. We knew we had to do it for him too. I think he also contributed to this victory."

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Meanwhile, South Africa will face DR Congo in the third and fourth-place playoff on Saturday in Abidjan, as reported by Sky Sports.

Why Gasset will not receive medal

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that French coach Jean-Louis Gasset will not receive a medal if Ivory Coast emerges victorious against Nigeria in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.

Gasset started the journey with the Elephants but was sacked after the first round with Ivory Coast on the brink of elimination.

The Ivorian FA decided to part ways with the gaffer following a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in the final Group A game.