Emerse Faé's journey with Ivory Coast ends as contract is not renewed

The Ivorian Football Federation has decided not to extend the contract of national team coach Emerse Faé, ending his tenure after two and a half years. The federation announced on Friday that Faé's contract, which concluded at the end of July 2026, would not be renewed.

Faé took over as interim coach in January 2024, following the dismissal of Jean-Louis Gasset during the Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Ivory Coast. He was later confirmed as permanent head coach on February 20, 2024. Under his leadership, the national team, known as "The Elephants," secured their third Africa Cup of Nations title by defeating Nigeria 2-1 in the final. They also qualified for the 2026 World Cup, reaching the second round for the first time in their history before being eliminated by Norway.

The federation released a statement acknowledging Faé's contributions to the team's development and results, stating that his achievements will remain a part of Ivorian football history. The 42-year-old coach declined to comment on the federation's decision when contacted by Agence France-Presse. The Ivorian Football Federation indicated that the name of the new coach and their technical staff would be announced at a later date.