Kombouaré would be in the sights of Côte d’Ivoire

Currently without a coach, the Ivorian Federation would have erected Antoine Kombouaré as a priority to take charge of the national team, assures L’Equipe. The Kanak coach, under contract until 2023 with FC Nantes, ticks all the boxes of the candidate desired by Côte d’Ivoire.

But where will Antoine Kombouaré train next season? Object of desire, following his good season at the head of FC Nantes which saw him win the Coupe de France on May 7, the 58-year-old Kanak had hammered Saturday evening to have « want to continue the adventure » in Nantes , although he has not yet « made a decision ».

A still unclear situation which the selection of Côte d’Ivoire would like to take advantage of, assures L’Equipe on Monday. The Elephants are currently without a coach since the non-renewal of Patrice Beaumelle’s contract. The French technician failed to qualify the African country for the 2022 World Cup, and fell in the round of 16 of the last African Cup of Nations.

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Gasset on a shortlist of three names

To replace him, Idriss Diallo, the new president of the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) would have made Kombouaré, 58, nominated among the best coaches in Ligue 1, a priority. Under contract until 2023 with the Canaries, the former PSG coach would not be insensitive to the possibility of leading the Elephants. Who are looking for « an experienced coach, with character and who has obtained results, and Antoine Kombouaré, meets these criteria », explain several concordant Ivorian sources, on condition of anonymity.

Especially since Côte d’Ivoire will organize the next CAN, from June 23 to July 23, 2023. If he were to sign up, the New Caledonian’s high salary (100,000 euros gross monthly) would be covered by the Ivorian government. Two other French coaches, including Jean-Louis Gasset (68), free since his last experience in Bordeaux during the 2020-21 season, would appear on a shortlist of three names.