Emerse Faé, head coach of the Ivory Coast national team, will be present at the draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed Faé’s attendance in a statement released on Tuesday.
CAF announced that the draw for the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, will be held on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in Johannesburg, South Africa, starting at 2:30 p.m. local time. Faé will serve as one of the assistants for the draw ceremony.
The 40-year-old Franco-Ivorian coach will arrive in South Africa on Wednesday, a day before the event.
Faé’s presence at the draw is significant, as he is the most recent coach to have led Ivory Coast to an African championship, a feat still celebrated by fans and players alike.
Faé’s remarkable tenure with the Ivory Coast national team began during the 2023 AFCONO, hosted by the Ivory Coast.
He took over from Jean-Louis Gasset in the middle of the tournament and guided the team to an unexpected victory.
His leadership through a series of dramatic matches remains fresh in the memory of football enthusiasts.
Ivory Coast’s journey in the 2023 CAN was nothing short of a miracle. Despite a heavy 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in the group stage, the team managed to advance.
In the round of 16, they faced the defending champions, Senegal. After a 1-1 draw, Ivory Coast triumphed 5-4 in the penalty shootout.
The quarter-final against Mali was another nail-biter, with Ivory Coast securing a 2-1 victory thanks to goals in the 90th and 120th+2 minutes.
They then defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in the semi-finals, setting the stage for a thrilling final against Nigeria, which they won 2-1.
The upcoming draw will determine the groups for the 2025 AFCON, where 48 teams, including host country Morocco, will learn their fate.
The presence of a coach like Emerse Faé, who has a deep understanding of the tournament’s challenges and the pressures of international competition, adds a layer of prestige and excitement to the event.
Faé’s journey from being a celebrated midfielder with 42 caps and 1 goal for the Ivory Coast to becoming a revered coach exemplifies his deep-rooted commitment to Ivorian football.
His success as a coach, particularly his ability to inspire and lead his team through challenging situations, underscores his tactical acumen and motivational skills.
As the football world eagerly anticipates the draw for AFCON 2025, the spotlight will undoubtedly be on Faé and the Ivory Coast team.
Their remarkable comeback story from the 2023 AFCON will serve as inspiration for many, and fans will be keen to see how the team is grouped for the upcoming tournament.
The draw ceremony in Johannesburg will mark the beginning of another chapter in African football history.
With 48 teams set to compete, the 2025 AFCON promises to be a thrilling and fiercely contested tournament.
As preparations continue, the involvement of experienced and successful figures like Emerse Faé highlights the importance of strategic planning and strong leadership in achieving footballing glory.
L’entraineur ivoirien Emerse Faé présent au tirage au sort des éliminatoires de la Coupe d’Afrique des Nations CAF TotalEnergieshttps://t.co/RM1FpKtucL
— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) July 2, 2024
