Former Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé has called on African football leaders to give coaches greater stability, patience and resources, saying the continent has the talent and infrastructure to compete with the world’s leading football nations.
Speaking to Brut on the sidelines of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) strategic conference in Cape Verde, Faé said coaching staff needed sufficient time and support to establish their playing philosophies and build competitive teams.
The Ivorian believes African football can make further progress if federations and club officials create an environment in which coaches can implement their plans without undue pressure.
“Coaches have ideas and plans, but in football, everything is not built in a day,” he stressed, urging decision-makers to recognise that developing successful teams requires time and consistent backing.
Faé’s comments highlight the importance of stability in African football, where ambitions to improve results must be matched by the working conditions and resources provided to technical teams.
He argued that football authorities should ensure their expectations are realistic and supported by the necessary investment, allowing coaches to work towards long-term objectives rather than being judged solely on immediate results.
For the former Elephants coach, closer cooperation between club administrators and coaching staff is also essential.
He believes that coaches need an environment in which their ideas can develop into a clear playing identity, supported by the people responsible for running their teams.
The former Ivory Coast manager also expressed confidence in the continent’s ability to compete at the highest level of the game.
“We have nothing to envy in European or South American nations,” he asserted.
Faé’s assessment is based on his belief that African nations possess the quality of players and improving infrastructure needed to challenge established football powers in Europe and South America.
However, he believes that unlocking this potential requires more than individual talent and improved facilities.
A change in mentality, with greater emphasis on discipline, patience and high performance standards, is also necessary.
The coach called for these values to become central to the development of African teams, arguing that sustained progress depends on building the right foundations rather than expecting immediate success.
His message to football leaders was that sporting ambitions should be accompanied by a clear commitment to supporting the people responsible for delivering results on the pitch.
Providing coaches with adequate resources and the time to implement their plans, he believes, would help teams develop a consistent identity and compete more effectively over the long term.
Faé made the remarks during CAF’s strategic conference in Cape Verde, where he shared his views on the future direction of football on the continent.
His intervention places the relationship between administrators and technical staff at the centre of the debate over how African football can take another step forward.
