Ivory Coast mourn death of AFCON 2023 head coach

Ivory Coast football is in mourning following the death of veteran French coach Jean-Louis Gasset at the age of 72.

Gasset, who briefly led the Elephants at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil, passed away on Friday, with his former club Montpellier confirming the news.

Jean-Louis Gasset’s spell with the Ivory Coast will forever be remembered as one of the most dramatic chapters in AFCON history.

Appointed to guide the Elephants at the 2023 tournament they hosted, expectations were high, but the campaign appeared to collapse after a humiliating 4-0 group-stage defeat to Equatorial Guinea. Ivory Coast finished third in their group, and Gasset was dismissed shortly after the shock loss.

However, fate took a remarkable turn. Ivory Coast qualified for the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams and went on to lift the trophy under Gasset’s assistant, Emerse Fae.

Despite his dismissal, Gasset’s groundwork and influence on the squad remained a key part of that title run, forever linking his name to one of Africa’s greatest comeback stories.

Following news of his passing, the Ivorian Football Federation released a heartfelt statement paying tribute to the late coach, saying, “The disappearance of Mr. Jean-Louis Gasset represents a significant loss for Ivorian and international football.

“A seasoned technician, a man of duty and principles, he left his mark on the technical staff of Côte d’Ivoire’s Elephants through his expertise, professional rigor, and dedication to the service of football.

“His tenure at the helm of the national team played a decisive role in the success of the Elephants at the ‘Côte d’Ivoire 2023’ Africa Cup of Nations, etching his actions indelibly into the sporting history of Côte d’Ivoire.”

Gasset enjoyed a long and respected career in French football, spending his entire playing days at Montpellier before rising to prominence as Laurent Blanc’s trusted assistant at Bordeaux, the French national team and PSG.

He later managed Montpellier, Saint-Étienne, Marseille and Ivory Coast, remaining active in football as a pundit until recently.