Ivory Coast, after the coronation, already new challenges for Emerse Faé and the Elephants
A little over a week after their resounding victory at CAN 2024, the Ivorians continue to savor this formidable coronation on their soil. But the Elephants will already have to look to the future with the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and CAN 2025. With Emerse Fae officially at their head, but certainly without certain African champions.
Emerse Faé now head coach of Ivory Coast. © Pierre René-Worns
By: Ndiasse Sambe Follow
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The euphoria has not yet subsided.
Ten days after the beautiful evening
experienced by all the Ivorians with the CAN won against Nigeria, the Elephants still seem on cloud nine. In any case, the African champions continue to set the field on fire, like, this weekend, Oumar Diakité, scorer with Reims in Ligue 1, and Simon Adingra, author of a double in Premier League with Brighton. But with the third star already attached to the jersey, we will have to look to the next events.
Emerse Faé logically confirmed
Emerse Faé's interim period
ended on February 11, the day of the
CAN 2024
final . Since Monday, February 19, he is now the titular coach of
Côte d'Ivoire
. “
Emerse was until now interim coach. He has just been confirmed today as a starting coach. Emerse is the new boss of the Elephants 100%
,” announced Idrissa Diallo, president of the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF).
The former assistant signed “
a two-year contract, until the 2026 World Cup, renewable
,” added the FIF president. Nobody doubted the signing of the man who offered a third star to Ivory Coast, it was only a question of time, of negotiations. “
We agree to continue working together, which seems logical to me
,” Emerse Faé told the Le Monde website. The ex-Nantes player should work, as he wished, with the “
same technical staff, including Guy Demel
” with whom he has “
a great closeness
”. Emerse Faé, who has already inherited a bonus of 100 million CFA francs (150,000 euros) after the victory of Côte d'Ivoire, should earn, at least, 65,000 million CFA (100,000 euros) monthly. As much as his predecessor Jean-Louis Gasset, sacked after a catastrophic first round.
The new objectives
Emerse Faé will therefore lead the Elephants for the next continental and world championships. The status is no longer the same for the African champions who are now ranked 5th team on the continent after having gained 10 places after the CAN in the latest Fifa rankings. With the Cup already placed on the shelf, the CAN 2025 qualifiers are looming which will take place
in Morocco in less than a year and a half
. The Ivorians should not encounter any difficulties in the qualifiers which should be played between September and November 2024 over six days with two matches per month.
Also read CAN 2024: what to remember from 30 completely crazy days
In the meantime, the Elephants will have a first official meeting in June with the 3rd and 4th days of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. This will be one of the main objectives of the new coach: to bring Côte d'Ivoire back to the World Cup in which it has not participated since 2014, after 2006 and 2010. Off to a good start with two victories in two matches, the Ivorians occupy the lead in Group F tied on points with Gabon. This is good: the African champions will display their trophy in Abidjan against the Panthers for the 3rd day of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
With which players?
Ivory Coast-Argentina! It would have been a great meeting to celebrate the title of African champion. But the friendly meeting scheduled for March 18 against the world champions has been canceled. If the Elephants do not find a new opponent, we will have to wait until June and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers to see Emerse Faé's first list. A priori, goalkeeper Badra Ali, veteran of the Ivorian players (37 years old) at the CAN, will not be there. Just like the one who had the captain's armband in the final, Max-Alain Gradel who is 36 years old. Both players officially announced the end of their international careers.
Serge Aurier, who won the 2015 and 2024 CAN, left doubts about his future when he did not have the starting place assured during the CAN. Seko Fofana, who had a troubled start with the Elephants before the apotheosis, admitted on the evening of the final to wondering about the rest of his international career. “
To be honest, I have a lot of questions about my future in the national team. There are decisions that may happen soon
,” said the Al Nassr midfielder.
In the meantime, Emerse Faé should be spoiled for choice for his future lists. Even if his striker
Sébastien Haller
is treating his ankle, he has certainly heard of a certain Mohamed Bamba in Ligue 1. The latter has just scored five goals in his first four matches with Lorient. Which has never happened in the French championship
for over 50 years
...
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