Ivory Coast’s national football team, known as the Elephants, has made history by winning the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). In the wake of their remarkable victory, Emerse Fae has been appointed as the team’s permanent head coach. Fae, who initially took over on an interim basis, led the Elephants to their third continental title, a feat that has earned him the trust and confidence of the Ivorian Football Federation.
Fae’s journey as the interim coach began when he stepped in during the group stage of the tournament, following the departure of Jean-Louis Gasset. The team had suffered two consecutive defeats, including a devastating 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea. Amidst the uncertainty, Fae managed to guide the Elephants to progress as one of the four best third-placed teams.
The knockout stages witnessed a stunning turnaround for the hosts. Ivory Coast triumphed over holders Senegal in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. They then displayed immense resilience by overcoming a one-goal deficit with 10 men against Mali in the quarter-finals after extra time. The Elephants continued their exceptional performance by defeating DR Congo in the semi-finals before dramatically coming from behind to beat Nigeria 2-1 in the final held in Abidjan.
Idriss Diallo, the President of the Ivorian Football Federation, announced on Monday that Fae’s interim position has been made permanent. Diallo expressed confidence in Fae’s abilities and leadership, acknowledging his instrumental role in the team’s triumph.
The length of Fae’s contract, however, remains undisclosed. Regardless, his appointment signifies the Ivorian Football Federation’s commitment to building on the team’s recent success and cultivating a long-term vision for the national team.
In a related development, Jean-Louis Gasset has been appointed as the new manager of Marseille. The French Ligue 1 club’s decision to hire Gasset came shortly after sacking Gennaro Gattuso.
Shifting focus to Liberia, the national team, known as the Lone Stars, has announced the appointment of Mario Marinica, the former coach of Malawi, as their new head coach. Marinica has signed a two-year deal and will lead the team as they prepare for the 2025 Nations Cup qualifying campaign.
The Lone Stars will kick off their journey in a two-legged preliminary round tie against Djibouti next month. The winners of the four preliminary ties will advance to the main qualifying draw, joining the 44 highest-ranked African teams vying for a spot in the 2025 finals, scheduled to be held in Morocco.
However, the dates for the 2025 tournament are yet to be announced due to a potential clash with the FIFA Club World Cup in June and July of next year. The decision regarding the scheduling dilemma will have a significant impact on the hosting and participation of African teams in the tournament.
The appointment of Emerse Fae as the permanent head coach of Ivory Coast and Mario Marinica as the head coach of Liberia demonstrates the determination of African football associations to establish strong leadership and chart a path towards success. As the continent continues to thrive in the world of football, fans eagerly await the forthcoming AFCON qualifying matches and look forward to the next chapter in African football history.