Emerse Faé has indicated he intends to continue leading Ivory Coast despite the Elephants’ heartbreaking FIFA World Cup exit, insisting the focus now is on building a stronger team for the future.
Ivory Coast’s World Cup campaign ended in dramatic fashion after a 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 32, with the decisive goal arriving in the closing stages despite the African champions fighting back into the contest.
Rather than reflecting on his own future after the elimination, Faé made it clear his attention has already shifted towards the next chapter for the national team.
“We will continue to work, continue to grow and come back stronger for the next competitions that will happen very soon,” the Ivory Coast coach told reporters after the match.
The comments are the clearest indication, yet that Faé remains committed to continuing the project he began after guiding the Elephants to the Africa Cup of Nations title and overseeing their return to the FIFA World Cup knockout stage.
READMORE: ‘That’s why I’m so proud’ – Drogba explains why Osimhen’s generation gives him hope
The coach acknowledged the disappointment of the defeat but praised the commitment shown by his players throughout the tournament.
“Unfortunately, we gave everything to go to the next round. We did our best to make the Ivorians proud of their national team,” he said.
Faé also thanked supporters across Ivory Coast for their backing throughout the competition.
“Thank you to all the Ivorians for the support and for the positive vibes they sent us from Côte d’Ivoire.”
CLICK HERE TO JOIN ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW!
Although Ivory Coast’s World Cup journey ended earlier than they had hoped, Faé believes the experience gained by his relatively young squad will prove invaluable as they prepare for future international competitions.
