Ivory Coast manager Francois Zahoui's two-year contract is fast elapsing, and there are still no signs he will get an extension.
After a flawless campaign from the group stage to the final of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the Ivorians' failure to win the tournament dragged the former Africa Sport manager's hard labour into the mud and now it might cost him the job.
Officials of the Ivorian FA (FIF) earlier commended the 49-year-old's efforts at the showpiece and never brought up the issue of replacing the former Ivory Coast international.
However, they made a backflip after players including Kader Keita, Salomon Kalou, Yaya Toure and Seydou Doumbia severely criticised the coach's decisions in the final loss to Zambia on penalties.
A source of Goal.com at the FIF said the search for Zahoui's successor is underway, and that his staunch support at the body is decreasing.
A scheduled meeting between the FIF president Sidy Dialla and Zahoui designed to confirm a contract renewal has been put off several times by the former.