Cote d'Ivoire name Frenchman Gasset as new head coach

The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) has appointed experienced Frenchman Jean-Louis Gasset as the new head coach of the national men’s football team.

The Ivorian federation revealed that the 68-year-old signed a contract for 12 months, with the option of another year, in a news conference.

Gasset steps into the side with loads of experience having served as assistant to Laurent Blanc when he was manager of France from 2010-2012 and has been a coach in his own right at Montpellier, Caen, Istres, St Etienne and Girondins Bordeaux in the French league.

Gasset was also previously the assistant manager of French clubs such as Paris Saint Germain, Saint-Etienne, Bordeaux and Spanish side Espanyol.

With the appointment, Gasset replaces another Frenchman Patrice Beaumelle, whose contract was not renewed after the Ivorians missed out on Qatar 2022 World Cup qualification and were eliminated in the last-16 at the postponed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals held in Cameroon in January this year.

Former Cote d'Ivoire international midfielder Emerse Faé will assist the Frenchman during the period.

2022 CHAN Qualifiers Draw set for Thursday

Gasset’s main task is to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as Cote d'Ivoire will be hosting Africa's flagship football event next year.

Despite already qualifying courtesy of being hosts, the two-time AFCON winners, who were champions last in 2015, are participating in Group H of the Cup of Nations qualifiers. They are pooled against Lesotho, Zambia and Comoros.

Gasset takes charge of his first game on June 3 against Zambia in Yamoussoukro and then away against Lesotho in Johannesburg four days later.