Afcon coach SACKED mid-tournament after humiliating defeat… despite still being able to reach knockouts

IVORY COAST have sacked manager Jean-Louis Gasset midway through the Africa Cup of Nations.

The tournament hosts concluded their group stage campaign by losing 4-0 to Equatorial Guinea on Monday.

AFP

Jean-Louis Gasset has been sacked by the Ivory Coast[/caption]

Despite finishing third in group A, though, they could still advance as one of the four best third-placed sides.

In a statement, the Elephants confirmed: “The contracts of coach Jean-Louis Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant are terminated due to insufficient results.”

Gasset’s side began the tournament by beating Guinea-Bissau 2-0 before defeats to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.

Those defeats leave the Ivory Coast hoping other results go their way to avoid a first group stage exit since 2017.

Gasset’s squad for the tournament included Premier League stars Serge Aurier and Simon Adingra.

They will learn their fate once groups E and F play out their final matches on Wednesday.

Reigning champions Senegal await in the round of 16 if the Ivorians do progress.

The two-time winners were amongst the pre-tournament favourites as they staged AFCON for the first time in 40 years.

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Gasset had been in charge of the national team since May 2022 after replacing fellow Frenchman Patrice Beaumelle.

He had previously had spells as manager of Bordeaux, Saint-Etienne and Montpellier back in France.

However, the 70-year-old now departs mid-tournament after back-to-back defeats.