Emerse Fae vows Ivory Coast’s resurgence after AFCON 2023 Qualification
In an exclusive interview with Canal+, Emerse Fae, the new coach of Ivory Coast, shed light on his initial sentiments after his team secured a place in the Round of 16 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Ivory Coast, despite an initial defeat against Equatorial Guinea, managed to qualify among the top four third-placed teams after the group stage.
«It’s been a challenging day. Since Monday, we’ve been holding our breath, caught between the disappointment of our own performance and the fear of not qualifying for our AFCON. These two days have been tough. Today, we can say the day ends well. It’s a great thing», shared Fae with a sigh of relief.
«Now, we’ve advanced thanks to others and not because we excelled on the field. We need to remain humble and temper our joy. As I mentioned earlier, we must use this qualification as a relief. I believe we carry less weight on our shoulders now, as the anticipation was truly burdensome. We’re now liberated and must focus on the upcoming match against Senegal», added the Ivorian tactician.
Regarding the upcoming challenge against Senegal, Fae stated, «Senegal is a formidable team, but we owe our people a comeback, an apology. We need to show them that what happened against Equatorial Guinea was an anomaly. We are genuinely eager to bring immense joy to our country and give them what they deserve».
Ivory Coast is gearing up to face Senegal in the next match, scheduled for next Monday in Yamoussoukro.
