Football authorities in Cote D’Ivoire have cut the original list of five coaches that are shortlisted to take the national team coaching reigns to only two candidates.

The Elephants have been without a coach since Herve Renard took the decision to resign from the national team in order to take over French Ligue 1 club Lille, following the team’s title winning success at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The original shortlist included Henryk Kasperczak, Patrice Neveu, Michel Dussuyer, Paulo Duarte and Frederic Antonetti, but has now been reduced to Dussuyer and Antonetti.

Polish coach Kasperczak was removed from consideration this week after his confirmation as the new appointment in charge of the Tunisia national team.

The move means that one of the two French coaches will be announced as the new Ivorian tactician, who will lead the current African champions towards their goals of qualifying to defend their title at the 2017 AFCON in Gabon, and of course to represent Africa at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Dussuyer has the experience of coaching Benin in 2008 and Guinea on two occasions, leading them to the 2015 Nations Cup.

It would seem that he is favourite to be appointed the new Elephants manager, due to the 56-year-old’s previous experience in Africa and the fact that in 2006 he was an assistant coach to Henri Michel for the Cote d’Ivoire national team.

Antonetti has no experience coaching within Africa at national team or club level, but he previously took charge of French clubs Rennes and Nice.

A decision is expected from the Ivorian FA in the coming weeks ahead of September qualifiers.