The moment of reckoning for the Elephants of La Côte d’Ivoire came after they were almost knocked out of the group stages of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Disaster loomed for the people of Ivory Coast when it looked like they would exit from Africa’s biggest football event, which they were hosting.
Jean-Louis Gasset was booted out by the president of the federation of Ivorian football, a decisive moment which changed the fortunes of the Elephants.
What an inspiring journey it was, led by the lowly and little-known coach Emerse Faé, who served as an assistant to Gasset.
Faé did what every Ghanaian is hoping Otto Addo does for the Black Stars of Ghana: revitalize an uninspiring Elephants of La Côte d’Ivoire, a spectacular transformation leading to an unthinkable triumph on home soil.
Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, a seasoned and celebrated journalist, who was present in Abidjan during the tournament, described how the gloomy atmosphere in the country suddenly switched to that of excitement when the people realized they stood a real chance of winning the tournament after Faé took over, seeing changes in their fortunes.
Though his playing career was cut short by injuries, the former Reading player began his coaching career with U19 team of Nice in 2012 until 2021, when he took charge of the reserve team of Clermont Foot 63.
In 2022, the Ivorian Football Federation appointed Faé assistant coach to Jean-Louis Gasset, head coach of the senior national team of La Côte d’Ivoire; little did he know he was destined for greatness, beating the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the final of the 2023 AFCON held on home soil.
Today, Emerse Faé is the best men’s football coach in Africa, according to the Confederation of African Football at the 2024 CAF Awards held in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday, December 16, 2024.
