[WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson, who was fired as Mexico's national team coach during World Cup qualifying, could be headed to South Africa all. Eriksson, who coached England at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, was named the Ivory Coast national team coach, replacing Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic.

Eriksson, who lost out to Swedish compatriot Lars Lagerback for the vacant Nigeria job, had resigned as director of soccer at debt-ridden English fourth division club Notts County in February.

Ivory Coast is considered the most talented of the six African teams headed to the World Cup but disappointed at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.