Ivory Coast name Jean-Louis Gasset as new coach

ABIDJAN : Frenchman Jean-Louis Gasset was on Friday named the new coach of the Ivory Coast, who will be hosting the Africa Cup of Nations finals in June next year.

The 68-year-old has signed a contract for 12 months, with the option of another year, the Ivorian federation said at a new conference.

Gasset served as assistant to Laurent Blanc when he was manager of France from 2010-12 and was coach in his own right at Montpellier, Caen, Istres, St Etienne and Girondins Bordeaux in the French league.

Former Nice and Reading midfielder Emerse Fae was named as his assistant.

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

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

The Ivorians, who were African champions in 2015, are participating in Group H of the Cup of Nations qualifiers, even though they will be hosting the tournament.