Cote d’Ivoire head coach Emerse Fae, has set his sights on defending their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
Fae led the Elephants to annex their third African title on home soil, following the departure of Jean-Louis Gasset, who was sacked midway through the tournament.
According to Fae, who was recently named Africa’s Best Coach at the recent CAF Awards held in Marrakech, Morocco said being named Africa’s best coach comes with a heavy burden of expectation.
However, he is confident in his ability to help the West African side defend their title in Morocco next year, which is his next goal.
“Yes, it does add a bit more pressure because, as someone just starting their career, many people have high expectations. But I enjoy the challenge it brings,” Fae told Flashscore.
“I like challenges and I just want to show people that it was not an accident. It is the beginning of a big career and I have to show what I’m capable of.
“Qualifying for the next one (AFCON) was crucial for me because we won at home, and it’s important to be here in Morocco to defend the cup.
“It’s going to be a very tough competition because many teams have talented players and a real chance of winning. But I enjoy challenges, and I’m ready for it.
“I like it and I just want to be in Morocco quickly to play and try to win here because I was not supposed to win the last one as a coach but I managed to achieve it in just four games.
“And I think it’s important for my staff and me to prove that we can deliver from the start of the competition to the very end,” he added.
The 2025 AFCON tournament will be hosted in Morocco.
