Ivory Coast to pick Eriksson, Hughes or Schuster as coach

The Ivory Coast's soccer federation (FIF) said Thursday that it plans to announce by Friday, which candidate out of Sven-Goran Eriksson, Mark Hughes and Bernd Schuster will coach the Elephants at this year's World Cup.

Ivory Coast sacked Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic last month and FIF secretary general Heguard Ouattara said the search for his replacement had centered on fex-Real Madrid coach Schuster, former England manager Eriksson, and former Manchester City boss Hughes.

"Yes, it's those three," Ouattara told Reuters by telephone, adding that he did not know who was the favorite. "The negotiations are continuing and I think that tomorrow [Friday] we will be in a good position and there will be a choice."

Halilhodzic was sacked after the Ivory Coast failed to reach the African Nations Cup semi-finals. The Elephants, led by Chelsea's Didier Drogba, are drawn with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea in Group G at the World Cup in South Africa this June.