At one point, the World Cup looked amazing for Africans. The teams from the oldest continent had the best success rate as nine out of 10 countries have qualified for the knockout phase. Later on, when the opponents were top teams, they all went out of the competition but they surely put a braver show than in Qatar 2022. And now, after the tournament is over (and almost forgotten), some African nations decided to make coaching changes. And both countries made surprising moves.Fae brands Schweinsteiger’s comments as 'racist'The Ivory Coast decided to part ways with Emerse Fae, surprising even the coach himself. A coach which led the Elephants to a World Cup for the first time in 12 years and who managed to secure a knockout phase for the first time in country’s history (they were defeated by Norway 2-1) expected a contract extension at least. What he got was totally opposite, and he was informed about it in the 11th hour. "The directors called me yesterday to tell me there would be no extension. It happened suddenly, without explanation. They acknowledge that the work has been done well, that they envisioned a future with us, but after yet another meeting between directors, it became clear that they wouldn't follow through. I'm not one to ask for explanations. I accepted it, that's how it is. I don't want to try to understand; I'll never find out the reasons" he said to L'Équipe.Desert Foxes' captain leaves the fold: Mahrez announces international retirementAnother coaching change happened in Africa, as Algeria parted ways with Vladimir Petkovic. Unlike Fae, the Swiss tactician got the contract extension just before the World Cup after his tenure since 2024 was explained as ‘remarkable since he took office’. He won 24 matches, with six defeats (and nine draws) and also led Algeria to the quarter-finals of the last Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and enabled the 2019 African champions to return to the World Cup, after a 12-year absence. According to La Gazette du Fennec, the Federation intends to rely on the Spanish school of coaching but no names have been mentioned so far. ##NAJAVA_MECA_9872196##