AFCON 2025: Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae slams Egypt players amusing behavior after elimination

Head coach of Ivory Coast Emerse Fae has criticized Egypt players amusing behaviour following their elimination from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

The West African football powerhouse were eliminated from the continental showpiece at the weekend after succumbing to a 3-2 defeat to the Pharaohs, who are in search of their eighth Africa Cup of Nations title.

However, Fae, who guided the Elephants to AFCON 2023 success has criticized the Egyptians style of play, tagging them as actors.

“Of course we feel frustrated and disappointed when we lose, but we have known the Egyptian national team for a long time. I have known them since 2006 and they are always like this. It is about crying, complaining and acting.”

“They have the experience in that and they do it well, and good luck to them if the referees fall into the trap of their style of play, and we cannot control this kind of thing,” Fay stressed.

“The frustrating thing is that we knew them well and that they would not play and would stand back to defend and then hit us with counter-attacks and then fall to the ground to act and waste time.”

“I am annoyed that we conceded such foolish goals, goals resulting from lapses in concentration that we are not used to making, and that is the hardest part of the match.”

Ivory Coast will now have to turn their attention to the upcoming 2026 World Cup tournament to be staged in the USA, Canada and Mexico.