Emerse Faé, head coach of the Ivory Coast national football team, has outlined his ambitions ahead of the upcoming CAN 2025 qualifiers, expressing a determination to rectify past defeats and secure qualification from Group G, which includes Sierra Leone, Chad, and Zambia.
Faé, alongside former Moroccan international Marouane Chamakh, oversaw the draw for the qualifying groups on Thursday, which resulted in Ivory Coast landing in what many consider a manageable Group G.
Their opponents include Zambia, the only team in the group to have featured in the last CAN in 2023, albeit exiting in the first round.
The Ivory Coast coach highlighted Zambia as a significant challenge, emphasizing the team’s strong offensive capabilities and defensive prowess.
Reflecting on their previous encounter, where Zambia clinched a decisive 3-0 victory, Faé expressed a desire for redemption.
“Zambia is a very tough team to play against. They possess excellent offensive players, notably fast ones. Defensively, they are robust and athletic,” Faé remarked.
“They defeated us 3-0 in our last encounter during the AFCON qualifiers. We have a revenge mission against them, though we anticipate a difficult match.”
Faé also addressed Sierra Leone and Chad, acknowledging their less prominent status but underlining the need for vigilance against each opponent.
“Sierra Leone is less familiar to us in terms of individual star power, but they are a cohesive unit with athletic players and good technical ability,” Faé noted.
“Similarly, Chad may not have high-profile European-based players, but they are collectively strong and physically competitive.
We face three strong teams eager to challenge the reigning African champions, so our focus will be on preparing thoroughly to secure swift qualification.”
The Ivory Coast, under Faé’s leadership, aims to navigate through the qualifying rounds with precision and determination, setting their sights on booking a spot in the prestigious AFCON 2025 tournament.
With preparations underway and strategic planning in place, Faé and his coaching staff are gearing up for a rigorous campaign aimed at asserting their dominance in African football.
As the qualifying matches draw nearer, the Ivory Coast team will prioritize tactical readiness and cohesive play to overcome their opponents and advance to the tournament proper.
Football enthusiasts and supporters await eagerly to witness the unfolding journey of the Elephants as they strive to achieve their goal of qualifying for AFCON2025.
CAN 2025 : Côte d’Ivoire, Algérie et Cameroun épargnés, le Maroc dans un groupe OM, retrouvailles RDC-Guinée… Le tirage complet des qualifications https://t.co/DMqn6rmMql pic.twitter.com/7RF8mDHB01
— Afrik-Foot (@afrikfoot) July 4, 2024
