World Cup 2026: Emerse Faé 'Pride. That’s the first word that comes to mind'

25.06.26 FT World Cup

Curacao

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Ivory Coast

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Emerse Faé has become the first coach to lead Ivory Coast into the round of 16 at the World Cup. After a 2-0 victory over Curaçao, the Elephants’ head coach expressed his complete satisfaction.

Relief, pride, and ambition—these are the emotions that sum up the state of the 2023 Africa Cup champion and 2025 Morocco quarterfinalist coach.

Pride. That’s the first word that comes to mind. We knew we could do it, we knew it would be tough, but we did it—and on top of that, we finished the group stage in second place. We didn’t want to sneak through as a third-placed team. We’re happy and proud.

Amid the celebrations, Emerse Faé is already thinking ahead with big ambitions. “Now we’re looking further. We’ll rest well and prepare perfectly for the round of 16,” he said with confidence.

In the round of 16, Ivory Coast will face the runner-up from Group 9. That could be Kylian Mbappé’s France or Erling Haaland’s Norway, with the two teams set to clash on Friday.

Nafongo TRAORE |

News Editorfr, ar, en

Nafongon Moussa TRAORE, Burkinabè de 25 ans, est passionné de football, est rédacteur pour Foot Africa et commentateur pour BurkiFoot.

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