Dussuyer new coach of Ivory Coast's Elephants

Michel Dussuyer has taken over as the new coach of African champions Ivory Coast, the country’s football federation announced on Tuesday.

The 56-year-old-Frenchman has worked previously as national coach of Guinea in two separate spells besides being in charge of Benin.

He has signed a two-year deal with the option for another two years, the federation said in a statement.

Dussuyer replaces compatriot Herve Renard, who left soon after winning the African Nations Cup with the Elephants in Equatorial Guinea in February to take over Ligue 1 club Lille.

Dussuyer was assistant coach of the Elephants , under Henri Michel, when they lost in the final of the 2006 Nations Cup to hosts Egypt on post-match penalties.

Dussuyer’s first assignment will be an African Nations Cup qualifier in Sierra Leone on Sept 5.