Luanda - With no time to make up for any "failure", six coaches have left national teams in 18 days of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN`2023) taking place in Côte d`Ivoire.
The reasons given by the federation chairmen are different, as are the reasons that led others to resign in line with the objectives set for this 34th edition of the continental competition.
Among the coaches dismissed, the most emblematic was Frenchman Jean-Louis Gasset, who was ahead of the Côte d'Ivoire national football team for the first three matches.
The Ivoirians weren't eliminated, finishing as one of the best third-placed teams. However, after a 4-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea, the French coach was asked to leave, giving way to his assistant coach Emerse Faé.
Côte dÍvoire are miraculously in the quarter-finals (...). After a miserable run, the team of former legend Didier Drogba knocked out favorites Senegal of Sádio Mane on penalties (5-4) after a 1-1 draw.
On February 3 it will be clear whether Emerse Faém will lead Côte d'Ivoire to another "miracle" when they face Mali in the quarter-finals.
Djamel Belmadi, Algeria's coach is also out of CAN2023. The winner of the 2019 edition has signed an agreement with the Federation to step down as coach after two finals, 2022 and 2024, in which the Algerians failed to get past the group stage.
Djamel Belmadi, 46, took up the lead of the team in August 2018, winning the CAN`2019 in Egypt, becoming popularly known as the "minister of happiness", however his happy marriage ended in the worst way.
Jalel Kadri, Tunisia's coach, fulfilled his contract according to his own statements and, having failed to achieve the objective set by the Federation, did not continue to lead the team.
The other coach to leave was Belgian, Tom Saintfiet, who was in charge of Gambia. Despite having a contract until 2026, the coach decided it was time to end his tenure at the helm of the Scorpions.
Less peaceful were the departures of Chris Hughton, the Irish coach of Ghana, who was sacked, and Adel Amrouche, the Algerian coach of the Tanzanian national team.
After criticizing the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Adel was suspended for eight matches. With no margin, the Tanzanian FA sacked him and appointed Hemed Suleiman, but it's not clear why.
This out-of-season CAN (it was supposed to take place in 2023, but was moved to this year) enters the quarter-finals on February 2 with Angola among the eight best teams.
The Black Sable, nick name of Angolan national team, face favorites Nigeria on February 2 to try to achieve what has never been achieved in many years of national football: reach the semi-final. MC/DAN/AMP
