Ivory Coast’s football federation has announced the termination of coach Jean-Louis Gasset in the aftermath of their staggering 4-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea in the Africa Cup of Nations.
This defeat, considered the most significant setback suffered by a Cup of Nations host, has left the Ivorian team in a precarious position regarding their qualification for the next round.
Gasset, who assumed the coaching role in May 2022, faced the axe due to “insufficient results,” according to an official statement.
The interim coaching responsibilities will be taken over by Emerse Fae. Ivory Coast, now awaiting their fate, must rely on other results as they managed only three points in Group A, securing a victory against Guinea Bissau but suffering defeats to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
The 70-year-old Gasset, expressing his bewilderment over the team’s performance, remarked, “In life, there are sometimes matches that turn into nightmares. We call this the disaster scenario.”
He added, “When you have a scenario like this, which borders on a nightmare, there is not much to say or do.”
Gasset’s tenure witnessed significant changes to the team composition ahead of the finals, with notable exclusions such as Eric Bailly and Wilfred Zaha.
Despite a promising start against Guinea Bissau, where they scored within the first five minutes, Ivory Coast struggled against Nigeria’s strong defense and experienced a breakdown against Equatorial Guinea.
Reflecting on the inexplicable turn of events, Gasset stated, “This is a difficult question. What went wrong with the players? I don’t think it’s their state of mind. When I see players crying in the locker room, it hurts me. The players tried. I think we’ve tried everything.”
Gasset, primarily known for his coaching career in the French league with clubs like Montpellier, Saint Etienne, and Girondins Bordeaux, had previously served as Laurent Blanc’s assistant for two years with the French national side after the 2010 World Cup.
The dismissal of Gasset marks the fourth managerial change at the tournament in less than 24 hours.
