Ivory Coast have officially named Emerse Faé as their permanent head coach following his successful stint leading the team to victory at the Africa Cup of Nations. The decision was announced by the country's football federation president after Faé guided the team to a remarkable comeback to clinch the tournament title.
Faé, aged 40, initially served as an assistant coach before taking over the reins during the competition when the former head coach was dismissed. Despite a challenging start in the group stage, the Ivorian team managed to advance to the knockout rounds and eventually emerged as champions under Faé's leadership.
The Ivorian Football Federation president confirmed Faé's appointment, transitioning him from interim to permanent coach. Faé's coaching background includes working with the youth teams at French clubs Nice and Clermont Foot.
As a former Ivorian international player, Faé represented his country in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He also had a stint in the Premier League with Reading.
Looking ahead, Faé's upcoming tasks include overseeing friendly matches in March and preparing the team for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Gabon and Kenya scheduled for June.
