No fewer than six coaches have reportedly applied for the vacant managerial position for the national football team of Gabon.
The list includes a quartet of Frenchmen including current coach of Moroccan league leaders Raja Casablanca Patrice Carteron, for Niger Republic manager Roland Courbis, Jean-Guy Walleme, Didier Six and the legendary Claude Le Roy who has coached extensively across Africa for over a quarter of a century. Gabonese national Andre Obame concludes the list.
The post became vacant after the Gabonese football federation (FEGAFOOT) terminated the contract of former coach Daniel Cousin after he failed to lead the team to the Africa Cup of Nations finals kicking off in Egypt in June.
The 42 year old former national team striker’s contract was for 10 months and set to end soon after the Nations Cup finals in July, however the deal included a clause if Gabon failed to qualify.
Last month Gabon sports minister Alain Bilie By-Nze spoke of his ministry’s future plans for the team saying, “We will rebuild the national team on a new basis, by sidelining all those who showed a lack of will, a lack of patriotism, and who have put forward financial gain while forgetting the nation and team spirit,” he said without naming any specific players.
“We will re-examine the policy of player fees. The goal is not only to reduce costs, but to make sure that those who really deserve it have access to the fees” he concluded.