Emerse Faé to share Cote d’Ivoire’s remarkable rise at CAF strategy conference

Emerse Faé will bring one of African football’s most remarkable coaching journeys to the CAF Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde, where football leaders will examine how the continent’s national teams can build on their performances at the 2026 Fifa World Cup ahead of 2030.

The former Cote d’Ivoire coach is among 10 coaches who led African nations at the 2026 World Cup expected to share their experiences at the three-day conference in Sal from 7 to 9 October.

Faé’s contribution is expected to go beyond his results with the Elephants, with his journey from youth coaching to African champion and World Cup knockout-stage manager offering a case study in the development of local coaching talent.

The conference will focus on how the progress made by African teams at the 2026 World Cup can be translated into sustainable development, with coach education, technical expertise and stronger football structures among the key areas under discussion.

From international player to coach

Born in Nantes, France, Faé represented Cote d’Ivoire during his playing career after spells with Nantes, Reading and OGC Nice.

He made 44 appearances for the Elephants between 2005 and 2012 before recurring health problems brought his playing career to an early end.

Faé subsequently moved into coaching, beginning within Nice’s youth system and progressing through different age groups before taking charge of the club’s Under-19 side.

He later worked with Clermont Foot’s reserve team before returning to the international set-up in 2022 as assistant to Jean-Louis Gasset.

That progression from youth development to senior international football is closely aligned with CAF’s emphasis on strengthening coaching pathways and technical education across the continent.

From crisis to African champions

Faé’s breakthrough came during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Cote d’Ivoire.

He was appointed interim coach during the tournament after Gasset’s departure, with the hosts having suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea and only reaching the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams.

Under Faé, however, the Elephants produced a remarkable turnaround.

They eliminated defending champions Senegal on penalties before beating Mali after extra time in the quarter-finals.

Cote d’Ivoire then defeated DR Congo in the semi-finals before completing their remarkable campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Nigeria in the final.

Faé had transformed a team that appeared to be heading towards an early exit into African champions.

His achievement earned him a permanent appointment and the CAF Men’s Coach of the Year award for 2024.

Making history at the World Cup

Faé subsequently guided Cote d’Ivoire to the 2026 Fifa World Cup, their first appearance at the tournament since 2014.

The Elephants opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador before losing 2-1 to Germany.

They recovered to beat Curaçao 2-0 in their final group match, a result that secured second place and sent them into the knockout stage for the first time in their history.

Previous Cote d’Ivoire generations had competed at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups but had failed to progress beyond the group stage.

Their historic run eventually ended with a 2-1 defeat by Norway in the Round of 32, but the campaign marked another significant milestone in Faé’s managerial career.

Faé’s experience offers lessons for Africa

Faé’s presence at the CAF Strategy Conference therefore provides an opportunity to examine how investment in African coaching talent can contribute to success at the highest level.

The conference will consider what African teams learned from the 2026 World Cup and how those lessons can inform preparations for the 2030 tournament.

CAF has identified coach education, technical development and stronger football structures as important elements in building sustained progress.

Faé’s career provides a practical example of that pathway.

After ending his playing career prematurely, he gained experience in youth football before moving into senior coaching and eventually taking charge of one of Africa’s leading national teams.

He then guided Cote d’Ivoire from the brink of an early AFCON exit to continental champions before taking the Elephants to a historic World Cup knockout-stage appearance.

His experience is expected to provide valuable insight as African football leaders consider how the continent can turn recent World Cup progress into sustained success by 2030.