20100809
africanews

Former Olympique Marseille coach Gerard Gili is in talks with Ivory Coast's Football Federation to coach the national team.

World Cup Preview: Portugal – Ivory Coast
According to the president of the FIF, Jacques Anoma, Gili could be a good fit because he served as assistant coach for the Elephants between 2004 and 2006.

"Since he knows the place and the players, I have asked him to come," he told Reuters. "I've told him he has an advantage compared to others in that he already knows the lay of the land."

Anoma said talks with Gili were ongoing and that no decision had been made. He added that he hoped the next coach of the Elephants lives in Ivory Coast, still recovering from a 2002-03 civil war, after several years in which the team's coaches have asked to be based in Europe.

Ivory Coast failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.