In Ivory Coast, Jean-Louis Gasset is not expected to survive the catastrophic results of the national team in the 2023 AFCON. His dismissal is announced by several Ivorian sources.
The AFCON 2023, which was supposed to be a fairy tale for Côte d’Ivoire, is quickly turning into a nightmare. The Ivorian federation is considering a crucial decision, even if by some miracle the team manages to qualify for the knockout stages. The national team’s troubles have been such that the fate of coach Jean-Louis Gasset seems already sealed, even in case of success.
Jean-Louis Gasset on the brink
The Ivorian dream of shining in front of their home crowd has taken a tragic turn during the first three days of the continental competition. With two losses in three matches, Côte d’Ivoire finds itself in a precarious situation, now only able to hope for qualification as one of the best third-placed teams.
According to information from NCI Television, the national team management is on the verge of parting ways with Jean-Louis Gasset following this disappointing group stage. This decision would be made even in the event of qualification for the finals. If Gasset departs, Émerse Faé would take over as interim head coach for the rest of the AFCON.
By finishing only third in their group, Côte d’Ivoire exposes itself to a formidable scenario for the remainder of the competition. They would have to face the first or second-placed team from another group to ensure their survival in their own tournament. For this, Zambia or Namibia would need to perform worse than Gasset’s men in terms of both points and goal difference (-3).
Tension is running high within the Ivorian federation, with supporters holding their breath for an uncertain outcome. The AFCON 2023, meant to be a celebration of African football, risks leaving a bitter taste for Ivorians faced with difficult choices for the immediate future of their national team. The rest of the competition still holds surprises, and only time will tell if Côte d’Ivoire can overcome this crisis and find the path to success.
A petition for Jean-Louis Gasset’s departure
Côte d’Ivoire’s debacle against Equatorial Guinea with a humiliating 4-0 score triggered a wave of anger among Ivorian supporters, leading to acts of vandalism against the equipment of the Ivorian Football Federation. However, the main target of their anger is coach Jean-Louis Gasset, accused of being the main culprit behind the Elephants’ debacle.
This indignation found expression through a petition demanding the immediate resignation of Jean-Louis Gasset. Launched since Monday night, the petition has already gathered over 21,900 signatures out of the expected 25,000. The initiators of the petition strongly criticize the French coach for his inability to bring joy to the hearts of the Ivorian population, already burdened by economic difficulties.
“The Ivorian population, despite itself, entrusted Mr. Jean Louis Gasset to be the coach of the Elephants for AFCON 2023. With bad maneuvers, the said coach was unable to bring a bit of joy to the hearts of the Ivorian population. A population that is already wounded by the high cost of living. So, for this glaring lack of humanity towards the entire Ivorian population and Mr. Jean-Louis Gasset’s lack of skills, we demand his immediate resignation,” states the petition text.
Furthermore, the petition signatories do not limit their request to Gasset’s resignation alone. They also demand the removal of the president of the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF), Idriss Diallo, and propose his replacement by the unsuccessful candidate, Didier Drogba.
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