Cape Town - Sabri Lamouchi has stepped down as Ivory Coast manager after
failing to lead the side past the World Cup group stages following
Tuesday's 2-1 defeat to Greece.
A stoppage-time penalty from Georgios Samaras sealed the Elephants' fate as they were sent home from Brazil early after finishing Group C in third, one point below the Greeks in the final qualifying position.
And Lamouchi, whose contract with Cote d'Ivoire was due to expire after this World Cup, has revealed he will not seek an extended stay in the national team hot seat.
"I'm deeply disappointed for the players," said the 42-year-old.
"The Ivory Coast is a great football nation and this was a cruel game, a cruel game," Lamouchi lamented.
"After so much hard work and so much sacrifice, all of us and everyone in the Ivory Coast is very sad."
A stoppage-time penalty from Georgios Samaras sealed the Elephants' fate as they were sent home from Brazil early after finishing Group C in third, one point below the Greeks in the final qualifying position.
And Lamouchi, whose contract with Cote d'Ivoire was due to expire after this World Cup, has revealed he will not seek an extended stay in the national team hot seat.
"I'm deeply disappointed for the players," said the 42-year-old.
"The Ivory Coast is a great football nation and this was a cruel game, a cruel game," Lamouchi lamented.
"After so much hard work and so much sacrifice, all of us and everyone in the Ivory Coast is very sad."