Skip to main content

AFCON 2023: Elephants interim coach passes first test, admits “tougher tests lie ahead”

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson
Unlike the seven other nations ready for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 quarterfinals, hosts Cote D’Ivoire are still celebrating their 5-4 post game penalty home triumph over defending champions Senegal at the Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro. It’s the first win for the hosts under their interim coach Emerse Fae, a former “Elephants” international following the termination of contracts for his former Boss Jean-Louis André Lucien Gasset and his first assistant coach Ghislain Marie Joseph Printant, due to insufficient results. It was indeed a historic comeback for the host who were earlier shocked by the defending champions in the fourth-minute when their youngster Habib Diallo hastily chested a pass from Sadio Mane, and slotted it home to put his country ahead. The defending champion’s early lead got the Ivoirians energized as they dominated ball possession and new manager Fae’s triple substitution ten minutes on to the end of the match paid off in the 86th when Franck Kessie equalized from the penalty spot after Nicolas Pepe was fouled in the Senegalese danger area. Kessie’s goal proved to be a major boost for the hosts who will go on to force the defending champions to enter into the post game lottery where they eventually eliminated Senegal 5-4 to advance to the quarterfinals. To the Ivoirians caretaker coach, Emerse Fae, the victory means a lot. He confessed that he was under pressure, saying there was a lot of pressure before the match. “I couldn't sleep as usual, thinking about all scenarios and on match day, the match was too long for me. If I said there was no pressure, I would be lying," Fae explained. He said the result is a booster in our search for AFCON splendour but that his team needs to keep going. “Although we’ve beaten the defending champions to advance to the quarterfinals stage, we must continue working with the same winning mentality at every match because tougher task lies ahead.” Fae’s next task as interim coach of the Elephants is underway on Saturday, February 3, when his side will face Mali in the quarterfinals in Bouake.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Senegal, first African team to beat England, but not first to score three goals

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Claim: Soccer World HQ, in a Facebook post , claimed that Senegal is the first African team to beat England and the first to score three goals against them. Verdict: Partly True! Senegal is the first African team to beat England, but not the first to score three goals against them. Full Text The England senior men’s national football team, nicknamed the “Three Lions,” played their first match against Scotland in 1872. That match ended goalless but marked the beginning of an intense soccer rivalry between both nations, dubbed the “Auld Enemy.” Since 1872-2025, the England national team has achieved its 1000-game milestone in November 2019 when they played Montenegro at the Wembley Stadium. England's all-time head-to-head record shows that they’ve played a whopping 1072 matches against 100 countries, won 615 games, drew 255, and lost 200. Senegal, on the other hand, is one of Africa’s most famous football nations, nicknamed the “Lions of Teranga.” In 2002, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Makeni Medical Mission Brings Hope and Healing to Bombali District

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Residents of the Asker Amputee Camp in Makeni City, including various war victims, are rejoicing over the inauguration of the Makeni Medical Mission health facility, established by philanthropist, author, and pastor Mr. Bambay Sawaneh, alongside his partners in the United States. This newly launched medical facility, comprising 11 treatment rooms, was developed with the support of Southeastern Medical International (SMI) and the Concord Christian Church. Their mission is to deliver compassionate healthcare and a range of medical services to the people of Bombali District and surrounding areas, with a particular focus on war victims and vulnerable families living in the Asker Amputee Camp at Robureh. At the official opening ceremony in Makeni city, a team of 10 medical missionaries from Southeastern Medical International, including Sheila Yates, a seasoned medical missionary with two decades of experience in the US, provided free medical care to 100 individuals,...
Post a Comment
Read more

❗️INDEPENDENCE MESSAGE FROM ACTION TO HEAL FOUNDATION SIERRA LEONE (A2HF-SL)🇸🇱

  欄 Fellow Countrymen of this Great Land Naturally Endowed with Riches and a Fine Set of Zealous and Charismatic Siblings,  that has once been Chained to Colonial Dictatorship for over 15 Decades, Action to Heal Foundation Sierra Leone (A2HF-SL) a Non-Governmental Organization that Stands for Physically Challenged Children through its numerous contribution in their Lives, and by its other activities such as: Advocacy, Education Charitable Gestures and more, hereby wishes the People of Sierra Leone at both home and abroad a Happy 58th Years Independence Anniversary. As Commemoration and Celebration of this historic day continues quietly and loudly incountry and far and wide, A2HF is please to remind us all that it takes courage, determination, and sacrifice for us to develop this great nation of ours. Hastily, as the day fades by gradually, forget not to  lay premium to Physically Challenged Children of Our Country and the African Continent by...
Post a Comment
Read more