English Premier League
Emerse Fae leaves Cote d’Ivoire after rejecting contract extension
Emerse Fae has left his role as head coach of Cote d’Ivoire after deciding not to renew his contract, the Ivorian Football Federation announced on Friday.
The 42-year-old’s agreement formally expired on 31 July 2026, bringing an end to his time in charge of the Elephants. The federation confirmed that the contract would not be extended, while thanking Fae for his “commitment, professionalism and service to the national team throughout his tenure”.
In its statement, the federation also praised the contribution made by the former Nantes player and coach to the team’s development and the results achieved during his period in charge.
“We commend his contribution to the development of the national team and the results achieved under his leadership, which will remain an important part of the history of modern Ivorian football,” the statement said.
The executive committee of the federation offered Fae its warmest congratulations and wished him “continued good fortune and success in his professional career”.
It added that decisions regarding the appointment of a new head coach and his technical staff would be announced in due course.
Fae, who is from the French city of Nantes, departs after a highly successful spell with Cote d’Ivoire. He managed the national team in 36 matches, recording 25 victories, four draws and only seven defeats.
His most significant achievement came at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, when he guided Cote d’Ivoire to the title on home soil. The triumph restored the Elephants to prominence in African football and stands as the defining success of his tenure.
Fae also led the team to qualification for the 2026 World Cup. It will be Cote d’Ivoire’s first appearance at the tournament since the 2014 edition.
The qualification campaign was particularly notable because Cote d’Ivoire completed it without conceding a single goal. That achievement secured another major milestone for Fae and his players before the end of his contract.
His departure had been expected once the agreement reached its conclusion, but Friday’s announcement formally ended the 42-year-old’s tenure.
The federation must now begin the search for a successor capable of building on the progress made under Fae. The new appointment and the composition of the incoming coaching team will be confirmed by the Ivorian Football Federation at a later date.
