François Zahoui succeeds Sven-Goran Eriksson as Ivory Coast manager

The Ivory Coast football federation (FIF) named former national team forward, and current interim coach, François Zahouias the country's new coach on Saturday.

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The 49-year-old becomes the Elephants head coach with immediate effect, and succeeds former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who led the West African team to the 2010 World Cup.

“We have the pleasure to inform the local and international community that Mr François Zahoui, formerly coach of the national junior team, has been selected by the FIF as the new national coach of Cote D’Ivoire,” a statement published on the FIF website, the body’s executive committee said.

Zahoui was handed a two-year contract starting from August 21 and the FIF has called on all Ivorians to support the new coach and the national team.

Zahoui saw his modest popularity soar in Cote D’Ivoire after leading the Elephants to a win over Italy in a friendly in London earlier this month.

He is currently in Europe meeting Ivorian players, while in search of assistants to consolidate his coaching team, according to reports.

The Ivory Coast, who finished third in Group G in South Africa, will kick-off their 2012 AFCON qualifiers in early September, alongside Rwanda.

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