Ivory Coast’s hopes of cruising through the 2025 AFCON qualifiers were dealt a blow as they suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Sierra Leone on Matchday 4. Despite being widely regarded as favourites, the Elephants struggled to find their footing, raising questions about their readiness for the upcoming tournament.
Speaking after the game, Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé remained composed, addressing the media with a clear message. “Every game, win or lose, is a lesson to be learned.
You’re constantly learning, that’s how you progress,” Faé said, emphasizing the importance of taking valuable insights from both victories and setbacks.
He defended his tactical decisions, including the six changes he made to the starting lineup. “The changes I made were well thought out. These are players who showed an excellent level during the training camp, and they deserved their place on the pitch,” he explained.
Faé’s selection choices had drawn some criticism, particularly after leaving several regular starters on the bench.
He pointed to the challenging conditions the team faced, particularly the artificial playing surface, which can be especially taxing on players with heavy workloads.
“It was important to manage our squad, given the surface and the physical toll it takes on players. Some had already logged significant minutes this season, and we needed to protect them,” Faé noted, justifying his rotation of key players.
While the new faces in the lineup came under scrutiny following the loss, Faé stood firm in his defense of their performance.
“It is not because of the six new players lined up today that we lost. We are a team, and we take the defeat together, as we share the victories.
There is no regret to have,” he said, emphasizing unity within the squad. He was quick to frame the defeat as a collective learning experience, rather than placing blame on individual players.
Faé’s leadership in the aftermath of the defeat aimed to maintain the morale and cohesion of his squad. He stressed that the loss should not be seen as a catastrophe, but rather an opportunity to grow and become stronger as a team.
“This defeat should be seen as an opportunity to strengthen collectively in view of future deadlines,” he remarked, reflecting his desire to shift the narrative away from despair and towards resilience.
The unexpected defeat serves as a reminder that no game in the AFCON qualifiers is a guaranteed victory, regardless of past performance or perceived dominance.
While Ivory Coast has long been considered a powerhouse in African football, this result highlights the need for consistent focus and adaptability as the team prepares for the 2025 AFCON tournament.
The upcoming matches will reveal whether Faé’s tactical approach and the lessons from this defeat can help the Elephants bounce back and regain their momentum.
