Costa Rica parts ways with head coach Batista

SAN JOSE, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Fernando Batista has been sacked as manager of Costa Rica's national team after less than seven months in charge, the country's football federation (FCRF) said on Monday.

The announcement followed a 2-0 loss to Haiti in the CONCACAF Nations League on Sunday, Costa Rica's fifth defeat in six games since Batista's appointment in March.

The FCRF said former national team captain Bryan Ruiz had been named the caretaker manager.

"We made the decision to dismiss Fernando Batista from the position and decided to appoint Bryan Ruiz on an interim basis," FCRF President Osael Maroto told reporters.

Sunday's result left Costa Rica fifth in the six-team Group A standings ahead of its away clash with Nicaragua on Thursday.

"The results were not there. When we hired him, we were thinking about the entire process leading up to 2030 and this change is happening due to the poor results," Maroto added.

Costa Rica failed to qualify for this year's FIFA World Cup following three consecutive appearances in the quadrennial competition.