Emerse Fae led the Ivory Coast to a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations title victory on home soil, an achievement he describes as “revenge” after having to retire from playing early. The 40-year-old was named interim coach of the Elephants midway through the tournament and was able to guide them to a 2-1 win over Nigeria in the final.
Fae was part of the Ivory Coast team that finished as runners-up at the 2006 Nations Cup finals, but had to retire from playing due to health issues before the West Africans lifted the trophy in 2015. He expressed that taking on the role of a manager was a way to win the trophies he didn’t win as a player. Ivory Coast had an impressive run through the knockout stages of the competition, coming from behind in several matches before ultimately emerging as champions.
The victory was not only significant for Fae but also for the entire country. Thousands of fans lined the streets of Abidjan for a trophy parade, and President Alassane Ouattara joined in the post-match celebrations, congratulating Fae and the team.
Fae’s coaching journey began after his retirement from playing, coaching youth teams and the reserve side of French Ligue 1 club Clermont. He has been given 100 million CFA francs ($163,000) for masterminding Ivory Coast’s turnaround in the tournament, leading the team to success after a difficult start.
Looking ahead, Fae has expressed his ambitions to defend their Nations Cup title at the 2025 edition in Morocco and to compete for the World Cup in 2026. He is yet to decide on his future, mentioning that he will take some rest and go on holiday with his family before making any decisions regarding his coaching career. Fae is keen on achieving further success with the Ivorian national team, aiming for more trophies and possibly a World Cup victory.
