Former Ivory Coast coach Jean-Louis Gasset made a bold prediction that seemed improbable at the time but ultimately came true, leading to one of the most remarkable turnarounds in the tournament’s history.
Following a crushing 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea on January 22, which placed the Elephants on the brink of elimination from their home tournament, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) announced Gasset’s departure.
The team, demoralized and in a seemingly hopeless situation, needed a highly unlikely series of events to secure one of the spots among the four best third-placed teams to advance past the group stage.
In the immediate aftermath of the devastating loss, Gasset made a surprising and emotional decision. As morale plummeted within the locker room, he announced to the team his intention to step down as head coach.
This decision, which he later elaborated on in an interview with L’Equipe, was driven by a desire to break the “negative spiral” that had engulfed the team.
Gasset believed his departure might be the necessary catalyst to change the team’s fortunes.
In an unexpected moment during his farewell to the team, Gasset made a prediction that seemed almost fantastical at the time.
According to Bonaventure Kalou, the former coordinator of the Ivorian national team, Gasset stood before the disheartened players and declared, “I’m leaving if I’m the problem, but I’m sure you’re going to win this African Cup of Nations.”
This statement, initially met with disbelief, would later be seen as a prophetic moment.
Kalou, a former Ivorian international and striker, shared this extraordinary account in an exclusive interview with Afrik-Foot.
He described the scene, highlighting Gasset’s confidence in the team despite the overwhelming odds against them. “It was premonitory, and we did it!” Kalou recalled, reflecting on how Gasset’s departure sparked a renewed sense of purpose and determination within the squad.
Indeed, the Elephants went on to defy all expectations. After scraping through the group stage under new leadership, they found their rhythm and battled their way to the final.
On February 11, at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ébimpé, Ivory Coast achieved what had seemed impossible just weeks earlier—they lifted the AFCON trophy in front of their home fans, completing one of the most extraordinary comeback stories in African football history.
Gasset’s bold prediction, once dismissed as wishful thinking, became a reality, and his legacy with the Ivorian national team was cemented not just by his coaching tenure but by his unwavering belief in the team’s potential.
His departure, intended to end a “negative spiral,” instead set the stage for an inspiring triumph that will be remembered for years to come.
