Ivory Coast speak to Troussier about Elephants job

Troussier has previously had a spell as Ivory Coast coach

Ivory Coast's football authorities have confirmed they have spoken to French coach Philippe Troussier about taking the Elephants to the World Cup.

With just three months to the World Cup, the team are still without a coach following the sacking of Vahid Halilhodzic.

Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, who will take over as boss of Turkey on 1 August, is the preferred choice of the Ivorians on a short-term basis.

But it is believed his contract with the Russian federation, which runs until the end of June, could be a sticking point in negotiations.

Ivorian Football Federation president Jacques Anouma said on Wednesday that no deal has yet been signed with any coach.

"I've actually met many, but none has yet been chosen," he said.

Earlier Federation spokesman Eric Kakou told the BBC that Troussier is also on their list.

Better known as 'The White Witch Doctor', Troussier is one of the most travelled coaches in Africa having had spells with Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and South Africa among other teams.

The 54-year-old, who led Japan to the last 16 of the 2002 World Cup as co-hosts with South Korea, was linked recently with the job of coaching North Korea.

At the moment he is the general manager of FC Ryukyu, a club in Japan's third-tier division.