Ivory Coast Coach Emerse Fae Urges Team to Stay Focused After South Korea Win
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| Fae sounds caution |
Ivory Coast cruises past South Korea, setting sights on Scotland clash and World Cup qualification. Fae's team shines in South Korea victory, but he keeps feet on ground as World Cup looms.
Ivory Coast defeats South Korea 4-0, showcasing strong form ahead of 2026 World Cup. Emerse Fae's team looks focused...
Ivory Coast's head coach, Emerse Fae, is urging his team to stay focused and grounded after their impressive 4-0 win over South Korea. The Elephants delivered a strong performance at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, their first match since a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign.
Fae emphasized the team's collective effort, saying, “I really liked our reaction when we lost the ball. Every time possession was lost, the players reacted immediately.”
The win is a boost for Ivory Coast, who are preparing for the 2026 World Cup in North America. Amad Diallo, who played a key role in the match, grabbed an assist, showcasing his form after a tough spell at Manchester United.
Goals from Evann Guessand, Simon Adingra, Martial Godo, and Wilfried Singo made sure of a comfy win, even though Asians gave it a go early on.
“We are not getting carried away with this win and it is important for the team to keep working hard, even after scoring four goals and keeping a clean sheet,” the 2024 CAF Coach of the Year said.
“(This result) is a positive step for the future, but what matters most is .maintaining this same level of focus and concentration in every game.
“Our attention now turns to the match against Scotland on Tuesday, and after that we will step up our preparations for the FIFA World Cup. We will take things step by step.”
Fae said picking the starting lineup wasn't a tough call, cos they wanted to give other players a shot to prove themselves and show what they bring to the table.
Asked whether he faced a selection dilemma given the depth of quality in the Elephants’ squad, the 42-year-old said: “It was not difficult selecting the starting eleven, as the aim was to give other players a chance to prove themselves and show what they can add to the team.
“We knew South Korea had strong technical quality, especially players capable of making intelligent passes and controlling the game.
“Our aim was to disrupt that rhythm and stop them from playing through the middle. They have the ability to cause problems, but we managed the game well and limited their impact.
“They had a few moments and created some chances, but I believe we handled those situations well. In general, it was a solid performance from us and we did a good job.
“After these games, we will decide which players will make the World Cup squad.”
Three of Ivory Coast's goals came from strikers, including debutant Martial Godo, who scored on his senior international debut after switching from England.
Fae wasn't surprised by the attacking firepower, pointing out that many of his forwards had been on fire for their clubs in Europe before the break.
“While putting the squad together, we noticed all the strikers were in good form, which made selection difficult because of their quality,” he added.
“Seeing them perform like this in the first game is very positive for both confidence and healthy competition within the team.
“Everyone is pushing to earn a place in the starting lineup, and that level of competition can only improve the squad.
“We are pleased with what we have seen so far, but we must keep building on it. Our focus now is to maintain this momentum and aim for another win in our next match on Tuesday.”
Fae explained why he started Amad Diallo on the bench, brushing off fitness concerns. The Man Utd star came on around the 60-minute mark, replacing Godo.
Diallo didn't waste time making his presence felt, setting up Singo for a goal.
“Amad is fine, he is very good and we know his qualities and what he can bring to the team, especially after his recent performances,” Fae said.
“But we also have new players coming in, and I wanted to give them an opportunity to show what they can offer. It was simply a selection decision. With the options available, I had to choose who starts.
“It doesn’t mean Amad won’t start the next game, we are just trying to assess everyone and get the best out of the squad. The goal is to see what each player can contribute and make the right choices for the team.”
Upcoming Fixtures and World Cup Draw
The Elephants will face World Cup-bound Scotland on Tuesday night at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, looking to fine-tune their prep for the big tournament.
For Steve Clarke’s men, it's about bouncing back from that 1-0 loss to Japan last time out.
Ivory Coast's got Germany, Ecuador, and debutants Curacao in their group for the 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Ivory Coast's strong performance against South Korea boosts World Cup preparations. Who's ready for the Elephants?
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