Cote d’Ivoire coach Francois Zahoui on ejectable seat

Cote d’Ivoire coach Francois Zahoui’s two-year contract is fast elapsing and there are still no signs he will get an extension.

After a flawless campaign from the group stage to the final of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the failure of the Elephants to win the tournament dragged the former Africa Sport manager’s hard labour into the mud and now it might cost him the job.

Officials of the Ivorian FA (Fif) earlier commended the 49-year-old’s efforts at the showpiece and never brought up the issue of replacing the former Cote d’Ivoire international. However, they made a volte-face after players like Kader Keita, Salomon Kalou, Yaya Toure and Seydou Doumbia severely criticised the choices of the coach in the final lost to Zambia on penalties, with some threatening to bow out of the team.

Goal.com's source at the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) says the search for Zahoui’s successor is underway and that his staunch support at the body is ebbing away.

A scheduled meeting between the FIF president Sidy Dialla and Zahoui meant to confirm a contract renewal has been put off several times by the boss.

It is still unclear whether the coach will survive the storm but one thing is certain, most of the top players of the team are in favour of a foreign hand, especially captain Didier Drogba.