In a candid admission, Caretaker Coach Emerse Fae of Cote D’Ivoire has revealed the intense pressure he faced before the crucial showdown against Senegal in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Despite the challenges, Cote D’Ivoire emerged victorious, defeating Senegal on penalties and securing a spot in the quarter-finals after initial setbacks in the competition.
Fae confessed, “There was a lot of pressure before the match, and match day was too long for me. I couldn’t nap as usual, thinking about all scenarios. If I said there was no pressure, I would be lying.”
The coach acknowledged that the team’s qualification after Morocco’s win provided a boost in confidence. “Qualifying after Morocco’s win gave us confidence. We beat Senegal and eliminated them; morale is good,” Fae said.
However, he cautioned against complacency, emphasizing that tougher challenges lie ahead. “We must not stop here; we must continue working, maintain this morale, and keep playing match by match,” asserted Fae.
Having orchestrated a remarkable reversal in fortunes, Fae is determined to build on this success as Cote D’Ivoire prepares to face Mali in the quarter-final stage on Saturday.
