CAN 2023: "You're already playing well," Faé's famous speech that led the Elephants to victory

The triumph of Côte d'Ivoire at CAN 2023 continues to amaze African football enthusiasts. A year after this nostalgic moment, many still recall the standout events of the competition. Jean Michael Seri is no exception. A trophy winner with the Elephants, the Ivorian midfielder revealed the words of Emerse Faé that sparked a turning point in the players' minds.

Côte d'Ivoire etched its name in African football history once again on February 13, 2024, by clinching its third CAN. The Elephants overcame Nigeria's Super Eagles 2-1 in a match they didn't necessarily control. Emerse Faé's men had a rocky start at the beginning of the tournament before finding their footing from the round of 16 onwards.

The Ivorian team's magnificent journey led them to the finals, where they managed to topple Nigeria, the heavy favorites in this ultimate clash of the competition. Behind this victory against the Super Eagles lie numerous events and anecdotes. In an exclusive interview with our colleagues at Afrik Foot, Jean Michael Seri, one of the key architects of Côte d'Ivoire's triumph, shared incredible insights about the team's atmosphere during the final against Nigeria.

Trailing 0-1 at halftime, the Elephants returned to the locker room with knots in their stomachs, expecting Emerse Faé to yell at them as usual. But the Ivorian coach's approach surprised everyone. "What do you want me to say? You're playing well, so keep it up, it will come," he told his teammates, confided Jean-Michael Seri. According to the Al-Orobah FC player, these words from the coach changed the course of the final, which they eventually won 2-1, securing their third African championship title after those in 1992 and 2015.

Lydiane N'Po |

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Sports journalist specializing in African football, covering football news, exclusive stories and digital content for passionate fans of the game.