Football - Cote D’Ivoire: Emerse Fae’s job hangs on a thread
Eliminated in the quarter-finals in Morocco, Côte d'Ivoire will not be able to keep their title acquired in 2024 with their young coach Emerse Faé. Far from having convinced and having shown signs of progress, he is at the heart of criticism for his management and tactical limits. Six months before the World Cup, his future remains at the heart of discussions.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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Ivory Coast: Emerse Faé, coach in danger?
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A failed goal
« Gentlemen, our adventure at the AFCON unfortunately ends this evening (Saturday, editor’s note). The goal we had set for ourselves to bring the trophy home will unfortunately not be achieved,"
these introductory words from Idriss Diallo, president of the Ivorian Football Federation in the locker room after the defeat of the Elephants against Egypt (2-3) clearly shows the goal that was assigned to Emerse Faé and his staff before the start of this African Cup of Nations.
This failure even if the FIF president refuses to acknowledge it - "For me, it is not a failure," he said – somewhat weakens Emerse Faé in his position as coach whose contract only runs until the 2026 World Cup. There again, Idriss Diallo remained very diplomatic ensuring that the coach and his deputies will work to prepare for the next FIFA window in the month of March because we are in the construction of a project that is to go to the World Cup to make the best possible participation ever achieved by an Ivorian team. That’s the next goal.”
Clearly, Emerse Faé should at least stay at the head of the Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire until the 2026 World Cup next summer. And after? More and more fans are in favor of him to leave not only for his tactical limits but also for a supposedly growing arrogance and an obsession with always wanting to respond to criticism rather than improve his game through it.
Individualities that shine in a still average collective
In this 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the general public agrees that Côte d'Ivoire made a lot of noise about its individualities rather than by the beauty of its football as a team. If the Elephants responded to the intensity of Cameroon, they conceded a draw (1-1) after leading the score.
Emerse Faé was often saved by the genius of Amad Diallo who was indisputably the best Ivorian player of this competition. But faced with the low Egyptian bloc, a tactical response was needed. And the Ivorian coach failed. Côte d'Ivoire, who should practice the game in rapid transition and use the sides by bringing physical freshness to undermine the opposing defense, relied on set pieces to reduce the gap twice in the game.
The fact that an arrow like Bazoumana Touré only comes into play in the 89th minute while Yan Diomandé was not as sharp since the hour of play shows that Faé was at a disturbed moment in his reading of the match. Just like the entry of Seko Fofana at the same moment in place of Christ Inao Oulaï who, despite his enthusiasm and great performances in this competition was somewhat overwhelmed by the stakes and the weight of the game against Egypt.
Emerse Faé has less than three months to review his notes and prepare as best as possible for the next window in order to have a competitive team at the 2026 World Cup where Côte d'Ivoire will face Ecuador, Germany and Curacao in the first round.