Cote d’Ivoire’s interim coach, Emerse Fae, emphasizes that his team “cannot stop here” following their remarkable victory over Senegal in a penalty shootout during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations last 16.

The tournament hosts secured a spot in the quarter-finals by eliminating the reigning champions 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in extra time. Despite Senegal’s early lead, Cote d’Ivoire remained composed, and a pivotal 86th-minute penalty, converted by Franck Kessie, leveled the score.

THE SHOOTOUT

Cote d’Ivoire’s interim coach, Emerse Fae, emphasizes that his team “cannot stop here” following their remarkable victory over Senegal in a penalty shootout during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations last 16.

There was a lot of pressure before the match, and match day was too long for me.

Emerse Fae

The tournament hosts secured a spot in the quarter-finals by eliminating the reigning champions 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in extra time. Despite Senegal’s early lead, Cote d’Ivoire remained composed, and a pivotal 86th-minute penalty, converted by Franck Kessie, leveled the score.

In the shootout, Kessie’s winning kick sent the home crowd at the Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro into ecstasy.

This triumph marked a significant turnaround for the Elephants, who faced a challenging group stage with two defeats, including a 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea.

Fae, taking charge of tactical decisions unlike the previous coach Jean-Louis Gasset, acknowledged the pressure he felt before the Senegal clash. Despite the early setback, he encouraged his players at halftime to maintain their approach.

Reflecting on the pressure, Fae confessed, “There was a lot of pressure before the match, and match day was too long for me. I couldn’t nap, as usual, thinking about all scenarios. If I said there was no pressure, I would be lying.”

The coach highlighted that qualifying after Morocco’s win boosted the team’s confidence, leading to the victory over Senegal.

Now, with a place secured in the quarter-finals, Fae emphasizes the need for the team to stay focused and not be carried away by the result, recognizing that tougher challenges lie ahead.

“We must not stop here; we must continue working, maintain this morale, and keep playing match by match,” asserted Fae, determined to build on this success as the Elephants aim for further glory in the AFCON.