Emerse Faé: The rising star of African football coaching

However, winning the CAN is not an easy task, as it requires a combination of skill, strategy, discipline, passion and luck.

That is why the achievement of Emerse Faé, the coach of Ivory Coast, is so remarkable and admirable. He led his team to the ultimate glory, lifting the trophy on their home soil, in front of their ecstatic fans. He did so by overcoming many challenges and obstacles, such as the pressure of expectations, the quality of the opponents, the injuries of key players, and the uncertainty of his own position.

Emerse Faé was not supposed to be the head coach of Ivory Coast at the beginning of the tournament. He was the assistant of Jean Louis Gasset, a French veteran who had been appointed in 2022. However, after a disappointing start, with a draw against Mali and a loss against Algeria, Gasset decided to resign, citing personal reasons. Faé was then promoted to the position of interim coach, with only two games left in the group stage.

Many people doubted his ability and experience, as he was only 40 years old, and had never coached a senior national team before. He had been a successful player, who had played in France and England, and had represented Ivory Coast at the international level. He had also been a promising coach, who had worked with the youth teams of Nice and Clermont Foot, and had been the coach of the Ivory Coast under-23 team. But he had never faced such a high-profile and high-pressure situation before.

However, Faé proved his critics wrong, and showed his talent and charisma. He managed to turn the situation around, and led Ivory Coast to two consecutive wins against Burkina Faso and Senegal, securing their qualification to the quarter-finals. He then guided them to three more victories, against Ghana, Morocco and Nigeria, to clinch the title. He did so by adopting a pragmatic and flexible approach, adapting his tactics and formations to the strengths and weaknesses of his team and his opponents. He also displayed a great sense of leadership and motivation, instilling confidence and unity in his players, and inspiring them to give their best.

Emerse Faé made history by becoming the youngest coach to win the CAN, and the first coach to win it without having been the main coach at the start of the tournament. He also became a national hero, and a role model for many young Africans who aspire to become coaches. He demonstrated that age is not a barrier, and that with hard work, dedication and passion, anything is possible.

Emerse Faé is the rising star of African football coaching, and his future looks bright. He has already been confirmed as the permanent coach of Ivory Coast, and he will have the opportunity to lead them to the World Cup in 2026. He will also have the chance to prove himself at the club level, as he has been linked with several European teams. He has the potential to become one of the best coaches in the world, and to elevate the status and reputation of African football. He is a shining example of the talent and creativity that exists in the continent, and a source of hope and pride for all Africans.