FORTALEZA, June 25 — Sabri Lamouchi resigned as Ivory Coast coach minutes after his side’s hopes of reaching the World Cup second round were dashed by a late penalty giving Greece a 2-1 victory in Fortleza yesterday.

Greece took a place in the last 16 and Lamouchi said he had to draw the consequences of that failure.

“My contract comes to an end at this World Cup and there will be no epilogue and you can understand well as to why,” said the 42-year-old Frenchman.

“It is logical as we did not do well at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations or at the World Cup finals.”

The former France international, whose side started with a 2-1 win over Japan before losing by that scoreline to group winners Colombia, said a lot of hard work had gone into securing the Elephants first ever appearance in the second round.

“I have put a lot of time and effort into the past two years but unfortunately my story with Ivory Coast ends this evening,” he said.

“The outcome is a cruel one but the Greeks did not steal this victory.

“I am very disappointed and sad and also for the players and the Ivorian people.

“However, my career carries on and there will be other defeats but I would have liked this adventure to finish in a different fashion,” declared Lamouchi. — AFP