Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos late Saturday thanked his country's football team for their strong World Cup performance, and urged sports officials to keep the side's Argentine coach.

In his first public presentation since winning reelection on June 15, an emotional Santos, wearing the team’s yellow jersey, thanked the players and coach Jose Pekerman for taking Colombia to the tournament’s quarterfinals for the first time.

"Many thanks to our players who gave it all in the field, with honour, dignity and clean play,” Santos said. "What pride! We are so proud of our Colombian national team."

Colombia was eliminated from the tournament when they lost to Brazil 2-1 at the Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza on Friday.

Santos, who flew to Brazil for the match, asked the Federation Colombiana de Futbol to keep Pekerman on the job.

Pekerman has successfully guided the team "with class and professionalism," Santossaid.

The 64-year-old Pekerman, a former taxi driver and club football player, was Argentina's coach in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Pekermaris contract with Colombia ends in August.