Zidane heading to coach Ivory Coast, maybe just for one game

Ivory Coast, the host country of the African Championship, hastily signed a contract for the eighth-final match with a big-name coach, Frenchman Zinedi Zidane. The former Juventus Turin and Real Madrid midfielder was quick to accept the offer.

After the Ivorian players finished third in the group, it looked like they would be out and would not make it to the eight finals at all. Thanks to a confluence of results and also a bit of chance, they are through to the eighth finals against the favourite of the entire African championship.

However, after the third and final group match, the Ivorian Football Association sacked the entire implementation team led by French coach Gasset. And suddenly the team was left virtually without leadership.

Almost no one thought that Ivory Coast could advance from the position of “lucky loser” from the third place. But it happened, and so the leadership of the domestic football association hurriedly searched for a coach.

According to the Kicker newspaper, one was on offer. Even the prime minister of Ivory Coast personally called the well-known French coach. And probably the most famous expert on African football – Hervé Renard. He is incidentally the coach of the French women’s national team – to save the home tournament, which has been a disappointment so far.

Renard led Ivory Coast to their last trophy at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015. And before that triumphed sensationally with Zambia in 2012. As a specialist in African football, he would be the best option for the Ivory Coast team at the moment anyway, who also face favourite Senegal in the eighth-finals.

But it all came down to the French Football Association. As reported by L’Equipe, the 55-year-old coach wanted to help Ivory Coast. But the French Football Association refused to give the coach permission to help African football.

“Who will help our women’s national team, from whom everyone wants an Olympic gold medal,” the French football federation said in an official statement. Incidentally, Coach Renard beat future world champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup as coach with Saudi Arabia.

Star Zinedine Zidane will help the team

Thus, former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane may only be on the bench for one game against Senegal. According to French media reports, the former Real Madrid coach, who has been out of contract for two and a half years, is apparently still eyeing the French national coach job when Didier Deschamps’ contract expires in 2026.

Now he is coming to the aid of Ivory Coast. Also in coaching trouble is Morocco, who play South Africa in the eighth round tomorrow. But even Morocco has had to deal with its own coaching problems recently.

Successful coach Walid Regragui, who sensationally led them to the semi-finals at the World Cup in Qatar, clashed so badly on the pitch with opposing defender Chanel Mbemba after the end of their second match at the Africa Cup against DR Congo that he was suspended for two matches, including the eight-final against South Africa.

After another hearing, the African Football Federation (CAF) lifted the ban. Amrouche should feel vindicated and be on the bench for Morocco’s eighth-final against South Africa.

African Championship Eight Finals: Angola – Namibia 3:0. Nigeria – Cameroon 2:0, Guinea – Equatorial Guinea 1.O, Democratic Republic of Congo – Egypt 1:1 on penalties 8:7.

Source: Kicker