Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Faé has described the upcoming international friendly against Canada as a “great challenge” for his team, as the Elephants gear up for a pair of matches in Toronto ahead of next year’s FIFA World Cup.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations winners are currently in Canada, where they will first play New Zealand this Saturday before taking on the host nation at BMO Field on 10 June.
The Canadians will face Ukraine prior to Ivory Coast’s fixture, also as part of their summer international preparations.
Speaking to Canadian sports outlet TSN.ca, Faé praised the quality within the Canadian squad, highlighting several key individuals who could pose problems for his side.
“I like this team because Canada has very good players, like Jonathan David, (Cyle) Larin. A good striker, Alphonso Davies, (Derek) Cornelius, (Moise) Bombito from Nice, (Ismael) Kone from Rennes,” Faé said.
He continued: “It will therefore be a good team, well-organized and attacking. A great challenge for Côte d’Ivoire, who will see how they perform a year before the World Cup.”
Despite Alphonso Davies being ruled out of the match due to injury, Faé remains wary of the overall strength and balance of Canada’s squad.
The match will serve as a valuable test for his players, as Ivory Coast builds towards the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The upcoming meeting in Toronto will also mark the first-ever encounter between the two national teams, adding a layer of intrigue to what promises to be a competitive affair.
While Ivory Coast will be looking to maintain momentum following their AFCON triumph earlier this year, Canada will seek to build cohesion under their new coaching regime after a transitional period since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Ivory Coast’s stop in Canada is part of a broader strategy to expose the squad to different styles of play and competitive environments, a point Faé emphasized when discussing the value of international friendlies as a benchmark for future challenges.
With excitement building ahead of their clash, both nations will be eager to make a statement in what is shaping up to be a significant summer fixture in Toronto.
