Ivory Coast’s journey to success within the Africa Cup of Nations was a story of seizing second probabilities.
But for successful coach Emerse Fae, the prevailing emotion after their comeback victory in opposition to Nigeria in Sunday’s ultimate was reduction.
The host nation orchestrated a fairytale turnaround, narrowly avoiding early elimination and rallying from a purpose down in three out of 4 knockout matches. Their triumph culminated in a 2-1 victory in Sunday’s ultimate on the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
Fae started the match as an assistant to Jean-Louis Gasset however assumed management when the veteran French coach was dismissed after barely advancing previous the preliminary part because the final lucky qualifier.
“It’s difficult for me to realize all this right now,” Fae stated after the ultimate, through which the Ivorians had been down at halftime however fought again to attain twice within the final half-hour to safe victory.
“When I think about all we went through, the hard times when we were almost out, and the matches where we came back in the last minutes, we have created some miracles. But it is also because we kept fighting until the last minute when the odds were against us,” he stated. “We feel relief firstly after all the difficulties. We were close to humiliation, but when we had a second chance, we were determined not to waste it.”
The Ivorians all the time believed they had been able to preventing again within the ultimate, he added.
“At halftime in the change room we just talked with the players about keeping fighting and putting pressure on Nigeria,” he stated. “We had started the game well and had good control, setting up opportunities but we lost focus and Nigeria scored against the run of play. But we always believe we could come back because Nigeria looked exhausted.”
Fae, 40, additionally took time to hail Gasset’s enter, even when the coach went again to France after their 4-0 loss to tiny Equatorial Guinea within the group stage, which was the worst defeat ever suffered by a Cup of Nations host.
“He should also be associated with this win,” Fae stated.
The Ivorians are the primary hosts to win the Cup of Nations within the final eight editions since Egypt’s dwelling success in 2006.
Source: www.dailysabah.com