Côte d’Ivoire has shown that it will renew the contract of the national team’s head coach, Patrice Beaumelle.
The 43-year-old’s contract to manage the Elephants ended last week and the Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF), which operates through a standardisation committee, has shown it will renew it.
“The committee salutes [Beaumelle’s] human qualities, commitment, professionalism, humility and discretion,” the federation wrote in a statement posted on its official website, quoted through CafOnline.
“While commending the French coach’s open-mindedness and collaboration with the FIF, the committee wishes him a continuation in his career. “
Beaumelle took over the Elephants in November 2020. In 2010, he was Hervé Renard’s assistant for the Angola national team, and in 2011 he was also Renard’s assistant at Algerian club USM Alger.
Beaumelle had also been Renard’s assistant coach with the Zambia national team since 2011. After Renard left his post in 2013 to take over FC Sochaux, Beaumelle appointed his successor.
Following the appointment of Hervé Renard as coach of Côte d’Ivoire on 31 July 2014, Beaumelle submitted his resignation from the Zambia Football Association. He joined Côte d’Ivoire as Renard’s deputy.
Under his reign, the Elephants failed to qualify for the World Cup final scheduled for Qatar and also had a disappointing performance at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. In the 33rd edition in Cameroon, they failed to make it past the knockout stages after Egypt 5-4 on penalties.
The resolution to renew his contract comes just two days after former Ivorian captain Didier Drogba joined the race to be elected president of the federation.
The 44-year-old Chelsea legend was able to compete for the top spot in training on April 23 alongside five other people, namely Yatte Ellele Jean-Baptiste, Arnaud Aka, Laurent Kouakou, Idriss Diallo and Sory Diabate.
According to the chair of the standardization committee, Mariam Dao Gabala, the full list of all applicants will be made public on April 15.
Drogba has already promised to breathe new life into the Ivorian if elected.
“Finally here we are! I can’t wait for the crusade to begin. Trust me to bring Ivorian football to life if I am elected,” Drogba said after being acquitted.
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