Emerse Fae officially replace Gasset after winning AFCON 2023

Emerse Fae was on Monday rewarded for guiding Ivory Coast to the African Cup of Nations title as interim coach by being given the job full time.

“Emerse was until now interim coach and has just been confirmed today as full coach,” the Ivoirian federation boss Idriss Diallo said.

The Elephants were facing elimination when they fired veteran French coach Jean-Louis Gasset in January after winning just one of their three group games at the tournament.

The next day, results fell the hosts’ way and they squeezed through as the last of the four best third-placed teams.

Fae, a former Ivorian international who had never coached before, took over. He oversaw an incredible turnaround. In the last 16, the Ivorians came from behind to beat holders Senegal on penalties.

In their match against Mali, the Ivorians played much of the match with 10 men, but still came from behind to beat their West African opponents in extra-time.

After beating the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in the last four, the AFCON host team came from behind once more to beat Nigeria 2-1 in the final and lift the trophy.