Mali coach Alain Giresse has resigned from his position after citing ‘tough working conditions and tensions with local supporters’ at a time when the Eagles’ 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign is hanging by a thread.
“In life, there are times you have to know when to say ‘stop’, it’s okay’,” the 65-year-old former France midfielder said in a brief statement.
Mali were crushed by Morocco 6-0 on September 1 in Rabat before being held to a goalless draw at home in Bamako by the Atlas Lions in the reverse fixture of the World Cup qualifying.
Mali Football Federation (Femafoot) have appointed National Technical Director, Mohamed Magassouba, as interim coach, to be assisted by team manager Fousseni Diawara.
Bottom placed in Group C with 2 points, the Eagles will host leaders Ivory Coast next month before a trip to Gabon early November for the final matchday of the qualifiers.
In his initial spell with Mali, Giresse was on board between 2010 and 2012 before joining Senegal, where he spent two years (2013-2015) at the helm of the Teranga Lions.
He returned to Mali in 2015, leading the team to the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon where they failed to progress from the group stage.
Mali are yet to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
