The 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) culminated in a thrilling victory for the Ivory Coast Elephants in the final match. Following this remarkable achievement, Emerse Faé, the coach of the Ivory Coast Elephants, clinched the title of the competition’s best coach.
The curtains closed on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday evening, February 11, 2024, with the Ivory Coast emerging as the ultimate victor.
Interim coach Emerse Faé secured a prestigious trophy alongside the team’s triumph. Initially part of Jean-Louis Gasset’s staff, Faé assumed the role of interim coach following the dismissal of the Frenchman.
Adding to the accolades, the Ivorian team demonstrated commendable performances throughout the tournament under Faé’s leadership. Faé’s success in revitalizing the Elephants earned him the distinguished title of the best coach of AFCON 2023.
Despite coaching only four matches with the Elephants, Faé achieved an impeccable record of four victories. With this feat, Emerse Faé joins the exclusive ranks of former players who have triumphed in the AFCON as coaches.
Born in France on January 24, 1984, Emerse Faé embarked on an international football journey that saw him don the jerseys of both France and Ivory Coast. Initially representing France at the youth level, Faé showcased his talent as a teenager, featuring prominently for the French U17 and U21 teams. His notable achievement came as a member of the French U17 squad that clinched the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Trinidad and Tobago.
However, Faé’s international allegiance underwent a significant shift in 2005, following a FIFA regulation alteration regarding national team eligibility. Opting to embrace his Ivorian heritage, Faé transitioned his allegiance from France to Ivory Coast, his parents’ homeland. His debut for the Ivorian national team occurred during a World Cup qualifier against Benin on March 27, 2005, where he contributed to a decisive 3–0 victory.
