Ivory Coast beaten by New Zealand, Emerse Faé explains

In a friendly match played this Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Toronto, the Elephants of Ivory Coast, reigning African champions, fell 1-0 to New Zealand. Emerse Faé tries to justify the result.

It was a match where the Ivorians, despite several attacking opportunities, never managed to make the breakthrough. After the final whistle, head coach Emerse Faé offered his analysis, highlighting the logistical challenges his squad faced:

I don't think I'm lacking boldness. We had some last-minute withdrawals. And it's not easy to get into Canada. We had to adapt to these administrative issues and bring in players who could travel more easily. Otherwise, we have a lot of talented, technical players... That's not the problem when it comes to starting them. You can have very creative players, but without chemistry, it doesn't work. The most important thing is balance.

Despite this defeat, the coaching staff intends to learn from this experience as they continue their preparations. Next match: Canada vs Ivory Coast, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, again in Toronto.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr