Ivory Coast sack coach Halihodzic ahead of World Cup

World Cup-bound Ivory Coast sacked coach Vahid Halilhodzic as expected on Saturday, the announcement being made on state television by the Ivorian Football Federation.                                            
The future of the Bosnian-born coach had been the subject of intense debate in the west African country after the highly fancied team were eliminated in the quarter-finals of last month's African Nations Cup in Angola.                                            

Federation president Jacques Anouma had said he would make a decision on Halilhodzic's future by the end of February and announced the sacking during a television debate on the national team's recent performances.                                            

Halilhodzic failed to travel to Sun City in South Africa last week for the pre-World Cup workshop for coaches, signaling his potential dismissal.                                           

Anouma said the successor would be named within 10 days, with Guus Hiddink installed as favourite to take over on a short-term contract before the Dutchman becomes Turkey boss on Aug. 1, according to Ivorian press reports.                                           

The Ivorians travel to London for a friendly with South Korea on Wednesday and the federation have named a squad but not indicated who will take charge of the team.                                           

At the World Cup finals in South Africa later this year, the Ivory Coast have been drawn in a tough Group G with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea.