Following the dismissal of Jean-Louis Gasset as Ivory Coast coach, Emerse Fae, his deputy, has been appointed as interim coach.
The decision does not seem to have met with unanimous approval among Ivorian fans. Many feel that Emerse Fae’s involvement alongside Gasset implies his responsibility for the national team’s disappointing performances.
Opinions on Emerse Fae’s appointment are divided on social networks. Some doubt his ability to manage the team, recalling his failure as coach of Ivory Coast’s U23 team, which he failed to qualify for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. Other supporters, however, are suggesting Didier Drogba as a potential alternative for the coaching role, hoping for positive change under his leadership.
While some Ivorian fans are expressing reservations about the appointment of Emerse Fae as interim coach, others are calling for patience until after the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. They believe that the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football (FIF) needs time to find a permanent replacement.
The reactions on social networks are varied. One user openly criticised Emerse Fae, pointing to his role in the failure of the Ivorian U23 team to qualify for the AFCON U23 in Yamoussoukro. He accused Fae of favouring ‘daddy’s boys’ and dual nationals, despite the availability of the best local players :
“I think it’s worse. Because it was with this same Fae that Niger eliminated us in the qualifiers for the CAN U23 in Yamoussoukro. They had the best local players, but they preferred to play their sons and daughters and players with dual nationality. The mumbo jumbo continues”.
This statement underlines the disappointment of some fans with Fae’s past management, and their concern about his ability to manage the national team.
Another comment expressed by an Ivorian fan on social networks reveals a certain apprehension about Emerse Fae’s ability to coach the senior national team. The fan questioned Fae’s abilities, given his previous failure with the national Under-23 team. He compares Fae to Haidara, pointing out that the latter has a better knowledge of “the house”, i.e. the footballing environment and culture of Côte d’Ivoire:
“Good news really, but Faé who failed with the youngsters is going to do what with the Elephants A, he doesn’t know the house well like Haidara who knows the house well, but alas really” ;
This reaction highlights the doubts some supporters have about Fae’s appointment and their preference for a coach with more experience and familiarity with the national team.
Other reactions from Ivorian fans following the appointment of Emerse Fae
Here are some other reformatted reactions from Ivorian fans expressing their scepticism and dissatisfaction with the appointment of Emerse Fae as interim coach of the Côte d’Ivoire national team :
- “What is the real purpose of an assistant coach? They are supposed to assist the head coach by providing advice. I still say that Ghislain Printemps and Emerse Fae lack the skills to influence the course of a match! The president of the federation, Gasset and his assistants should all resign..”
- “Does Emerse Fae have the necessary experience to manage a team of the stature of Côte d’Ivoire? I call for the resignation of the president of the FIF and the immediate installation of Drogba to appoint a coach worthy of our level. To perpetuate the excellence of Ivorian football. Otherwise, Fae, Gasset, Idriss Diallo, it’s all the same….”
- “As JL Gasset’s deputy, Emerse Faé was involved in the decision-making and substitutions. Did he have any objections to Gasset’s choices? That remains uncertain. However, they were part of the same team, so we can assume that Faé agreed with Gasset’s choices. In other words, they were in collusion..”
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