Ivory Coast: coach Ibrahim Kamara leaves with a mixed record

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

Ibrahim Kamara is no longer the coach of the Ivory Coast team. The technician and the Ivorian Federation have ended their collaboration "by mutual agreement", announces a press release dated February 20, 2020. The coach leaves with a mixed picture. It should be replaced before the end of February, the qualifications for CAN 2021 resuming in a month.

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Officially, this is not a dismissal but a departure from a " common agreement ". Unofficially, Ibrahim Kamara is no longer the manager of the Ivory Coast team due to results deemed insufficient and "irreverent behavior", indicates a source close to the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF). The fate of the technician, appointed in June 2018, was in fact sealed since a meeting of the leaders of the FIF on February 13, 2020.

However, the announcement fell a week later. It comes a month before the resumption of qualifications for CAN 2021 and a double confrontation against Madagascar. The process to find a successor to Ibrahim Kamara has already been started. The identity of the new coach could therefore be known before the end of February.

An honorable CAN 2019, but ...

Ibrahim Kamara partially pays for the services of his ex-protégés during the 2019 African Cup of Nations . The Ivorian selection indeed displayed tactical limits during the first round of the CAN in Egypt, whether against South Africa (1-0), Morocco (0-1) or even against Namibia ( 4-1) despite a large victory. The "Elephants" then dismissed Mali after a boring eighth final (1-0). Then they certainly delivered a great match in the quarterfinals, against Algeria (1-1 ap, 3-4 TAB), future African champion. But that was not enough to save the head of their mentor.

The latter made strong choices during his mandate. Choices that have not, in fact, always paid off. He jumbled up, kept away the experienced Gervinho, maintained the role of captain of Serge Aurier, entrusted that of playmaker to Jean Michaël Seri, made room in attack to Nicolas Pépé (before the gradually dismiss, following its poor performance at CAN 2019).

A strong character and a particular political context

The former assistant of the French Hervé Renard and Michel Dussuyer, as well as the Belgian Marc Wilmots, was also known for his strong but shady character. An uncompromising man, Ibrahim Kamara did not seem to be the type to compromise, including with the entourage of the “Elephants” and the leaders of the FIF.

Finally, the 53-year-old ex-defender may be the victim of a particular political context. The elections for the presidency of the FIF are supposed to take place before the end of June. And it is better to present yourself with a new manager in place than with a technician in place already challenged…

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