Koto soon to know his future

The coach of the Senegal Lions, Joseph Koto

Senegal national coach Joseph Koto will know if he is staying on or not at the head of the Teranga Lions in a week’s time.

After the national team were eliminated from the Afcon 2013 by the Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, the Fédération sénégalaise de football (FSF) will rule on this match and its disastrous consequences as of next Tuesday.

Only after this conclave will the fate of the national technician Joseph Koto be sealed.

The 52-year old coach has made known his aspirations to continue with the team, but could see his wish thwarted, especially seeing that a great number of Senegalese already hold him responsible for the failure of Papiss Cissé and his team.

The Federation have opted for a calm and peaceful approach, but it is not out of the question that Marie Joseph François Koto be asked to seek work elsewhere.

“The Federation favours taking the peaceful route.  That is why we have called on the stakeholders to submit their reports.  There are different commissions involved, the head coach and the National Technical Direction.

“The reports will be submitted on Thursday 18 at the latest and will be examined on Tuesday 23.  From there on we will be able to make decisions about this elimination,” announced Augustin Senghor.

The decision to keep or to dismiss the Lions coach will therefore only be reached after the analysis of the different reports relative to Saturday’s match, during which the Senegalese supporters – vexed by the elimination of their national team – wreaked havoc throughout the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, forcing the Tunisian referee Slim Jedidi to stop the match in the 76th minute.