5th Aug 2014 Now Nigeria and South Africa aren’t the only countries who have been carrying out internal re-organizations. Ivory Coast has also been doing the same thing, albeit in a much much quieter fashion.
According to the Face of Malawi, former Zambia Coach Herve Renard has been appointed as new head coach for the National team after former coach Sabri Lamouchi stepped down.
In much the same way as South Africa, it seems that Ivory Coast is also looking at long term results over immediate victories with Cote D’Ivoire FA Chairman Augustin Sidy Diallo quoted as saying “The new coach will help guide the team which will enter a transition period very soon. We will use the 2015 and 2017 Afcon to rebuild the outfit and raise a new generation of players for the national team. He went on to say “We have to be patient. Our new project is focused on 2019 and I want Ivorian’s to bear with us and should not expect immediate results.”
Herve Renard definitely has the credentials for the job; he has coached Zambia twice; from 2008-2010 and then from 2011-2013 and also worked with Angola in 2010.
We’re told that in addition to his regular tasks, he will also work with local officials to build the country’s grassroots football and will also spice up the senior side by bringing in fresh talent oth from within and outside Ivory Coast’s shores.
Hmm… with all this planning and organizing happening in football, we have a feeling that maybe not this World Cup, but the next, will reveal an entirely new dimension of African football to the world. We hope the world is ready.