Belgium's Wilmots new Ivory Coast coach
This file photo taken on June 5, 2016 shows Belgium's head coach Marc Wilmots reacting during the friendly football match between Belgium and Norway at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. Former Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has been appointed to lead Ivory Coast's World Cup qualifying bid, the country's football authorities said on March 21, 2017. PHOTO | JOHN THYS |
What you need to know:
- Wilmots, 48, is one of an elite band of players to have played at four World Cups.
- Wilmots led Belgium into the 2014 World Cup during his stint as coach with them between 2012-2016.
ABIDJAN
Former Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has been appointed to lead Ivory Coast's World Cup qualifying bid, the country's football authorities said on Tuesday.
Wilmots, 48, is one of an elite band of players to have played at four World Cups, and also led Belgium into the 2014 World Cup during his stint as coach with them between 2012-2016.
One of Africa's big guns and a regular World Cup qualifier, Ivory Coast flopped badly at the defence of their continental title at African Cup of Nations in February crashing out in the first round.
Then coach France's Michel Dussuyer was sacked and replaced by a caretaker coach Ibrahim Kamara, who last week unveiled a vastly changed squad for two upcoming friendlies with Russia and Senegal.
The nation lead Africa zone Group C with four points from two games ahead of Morocco and Gabon on two and Mali on one and need to win the Group to make the cut for Russia 2018.
