Emerse Fae returns to Nantes to face France

Emerse Fae is returning to his hometown of Nantes as Ivory Coast’s national team coach to face France in a friendly at the Beaujoire stadium on Thursday evening.

The match carries deep personal meaning for Fae, who was developed at Nantes and played professionally there from 2003 to 2007. He will also face Didier Deschamps, the French coach who was similarly shaped at Nantes.

When asked if facing Deschamps felt special, Fae smiled and replied, “Yes, it makes me smile. When I signed my first professional contract, I told myself that even knowing a quarter of his journey as a player would be great. If I could accomplish a quarter of his journey as a coach… As national team coach, it’s magnificent, and he has been an example as both player and coach”.

Fae described returning to the Beaujoire as “very pleasing” but also “a bit strange” since leaving FC Nantes years ago. “It’s particular but the objective is to prepare well,” he said.

On France’s World Cup status, Fae noted, “It’s a formidable team, armed doubly at every position. Offensively it’s strong, they can play quick attack or set attack, defensively they are also strong, so they are not favorites, but they have weapons”.

The friendly aims to prepare Ivory Coast for their June 14 World Cup opener against Ecuador.