AFCON 2023: ‘Were not at their best’ – Emerse Fae on secret to Cote d’Ivoire win over Nigeria

Cote d’Ivoire head coach Emerse Fae has revealed the key to his side’s victory against Nigeria when it mattered the most.

Les Elephants edged Jose Peseiro’s side 2-1 in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan, on Sunday night.

The Ivorians overturn William Troost-Ekong’s powerful opener through Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller.

The hosts were unlikely winners after losing two group games and fired their manager mid-tournament. Emerse Fae, a youth-team manager, took over for his first job leading a senior team.

With little to no experience in football management, the 40-year-old emerged as Ivory Coast’s unsung hero at the tournament, four games later, he was lifting a trophy and the young tactician was voted the Best Coach of the Tournament.

“We noticed the Nigerian players were tired in the first half. They were not at their usual best,” Fae revealed in a post on Instagram.

“I told my players during the half-time break that we must increase the intensity of our game and it worked out well for us.

“It was not an easy game but the good thing is that we won at the end of the day.  I still find it hard to believe it. We went through all the emotions. This competition will mark my life, that’s for sure.

“I took the reins of the team, on my birthday and we were almost knocked out, yet things turned around thanks to the hard work of these players and today they have been rewarded and more importantly, they rewarded our loyal people.”