Emerse Fae has admitted he was surprised after Cote d’Ivoire decided not to renew his contract as head coach, despite the manager already making plans for the national team’s long-term future.
Fae told French newspaper L’Equipe that he had been preparing for the next stage of the Elephants’ development and was already looking towards the 2030 World Cup. His contract has now reached its conclusion, with no renewal agreed.
The former Cote d’Ivoire midfielder said he had begun work on several projects intended to improve the national team’s structure and strengthen his technical staff. Those plans included training for fitness coaches, improved scouting and a development programme for young goalkeepers.
He had also planned to add a nutritionist to the coaching team as part of a wider effort to improve the support available to the players.
« Je me projetais deja sur la Coupe du monde 2030 », Fae told L’Equipe.
The decision brings an unexpected end to a period in which Fae played a central role in one of the most successful chapters in Cote d’Ivoire’s recent football history.
He began the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as assistant coach. After head coach Jean-Louis Gasset was dismissed during the tournament, Fae took temporary charge of the team and guided the Elephants through to the final victory.
Following that triumph, he was appointed on a permanent basis. Under his leadership, Cote d’Ivoire subsequently reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Fae’s most significant achievement came with qualification for the second round of the 2026 World Cup, a landmark result for the country. Cote d’Ivoire had never previously progressed beyond the first stage of the competition.
His departure therefore comes after a period that included both a continental title and a historic World Cup campaign. Fae’s comments to L’Equipe indicate that he expected to remain in charge and continue building on that progress, with preparations for the 2030 World Cup already forming part of his plans.
Among the projects he had started were efforts to raise the standard of the coaching staff, develop specialist support and create a clearer pathway for young goalkeepers. The proposed addition of a nutritionist was also intended to broaden the team’s technical and performance operation.
Instead, the end of his contract means those plans will no longer be carried forward by Fae in his role with the national team. The manager’s comments suggest that the decision caught him off guard, coming after he had already begun preparing for Cote d’Ivoire’s next cycle.