A statement from the Ivorian FA said the German coach had to fly back to his homeland as his son fell in a coma.

The IFA decided to promote the U-23 coach, Gerard Gilli, as interim, especially that he was among Henri Michel's coaching staff during the Elephants 2006 World Cup campaign.

Gilli, who coached Egypt in the 2000 Nations Cup, led the Ivorian U-23 side to their first ever Olympic games' appearance.

Ivory Coast are leading the poll for the Ghana 2008 title but they will have to battle first against Nigeria, Mali and Benin in Group B.