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AFCON 2023: All Coaches Who Have Lost Jobs In Group Stages
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The group stage games of the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations climaxed on Wednesday night, with six managers losing their jobs.
Three managers resigned, whereas the other three were sacked following the poor performances of their managed teams in the Ivory Coast.
Algeria’s Jamal Belmadi, Tunisia’s Jalel Kadri, and Gambia’s Tom Saintfiet stepped down after a poor exhibition at the continent’s most excellent football showpiece.
1. Jalel Kadri – Tunisia
Kadri called it quits following the Eagles of Carthages’ elimination from AFCON 2023 on Wednesday evening.
He was given the job in 2021 but could not help the North African side reach this edition’s knockouts. The 2004 champions gathered two points at the base of Group E.
2. Jean Louis Gasset – Ivory Coast
The hosts of the 2023 AFCON tourney decided to sack Gasset on Wednesday following a poor exhibition in front of the country’s fans.
Ivory Coast defeated Guinea Bissau in their opening match for a perfect start but lost their next two games to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
The Elephants needed luck, hope and prayer simultaneously to grab the final slot in the best four third-placed teams.
The Frenchman was appointed in 2022, and in the knockout, the hosts will be under the guidance of Emerse Fae.
3. Jamal Balmedi – Algeria
The Algerian Football Federation and Belmadi terminated the latter’s contract on Wednesday after the Fennec Foxes were again eliminated from the group stages.
Algeria finished at the bottom of Group D with two points. They were also rock bottom at the 2021 edition in Cameroon.
The former Algerian international was appointed Algeria’s head coach in 2018, and he had a running contract extended from 2023 to 2026.
He will remain in his country’s history books after he won the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, their only second AFCON title and the first since 1990 when they won it as hosts.
4. Tom Saintfiet – Gambia
Saintfiet left his position as the Scorpions’s manager after they failed to win a single game at AFCON 2023.
He was appointed in 2018, creating a history of guiding the Gambia to the quarterfinals during their maiden appearance at AFCON in 2021 in Cameroon.
5. Chris Hughton – Ghana
The Republic of Ireland national was relieved of his duties as the Black Stars’ head coach after the West African team was ejected from the 2023 AFCON.
Following Ghana’s poor performance at AFCON 2021 in Cameroon, where they failed to make it past the group stages, the 65-year-old was appointed in 2023.
However, he could not help the Black Stars as they were again eliminated from the group stages after gathering two points in the third position in Group B.
6. Adel Amrouche – Tanzania
Amrouche was the first head coach to be sacked by the Tanzanian FA at the 2023 AFCON tournament after CAF suspended him for eight games.
His suspension resulted from his comments and allegations about the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) after the Atlas Lions defeated the Taifa Stars 3-0.
“The Morocco federation is a proven power in African football. Morocco manages African football. They also choose their referees, and we remain simple spectators,” he said in an interview with Algerian television.
The Algerian was appointed in 2023, and his assistant, Hemed Morocco, took charge of the last two group-stage games.
Similarly, Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, was suspended for four games by CAF following a scuffle between Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Still, the Moroccan FA intends to appeal the CAF decision.