Émerse Faé Appointed Interim Head of Ivory Coast’s Elephants Following Gasset’s Dismissal

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – Émerse Faé, the assistant coach of the Ivory Coast national football team, has been named the interim head of technical management for the Elephants, following the dismissal of coach Jean-Louis Gasset. The decision comes in the wake of unsatisfactory results under Gasset’s leadership.

According to Burkina Information Agency, made public on Tuesday, January 24, 2024, Gasset and his deputy, Ghislain Marie Joseph Printant, were dismissed in line with the objective contract that linked them to the Federation. The FIF expressed disappointment with the Elephants’ performance in the group stage of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (CAN) but remains optimistic about the team’s potential. The Federation has called for unity and support in the face of upcoming challenges.

The appointment of Faé, a former midfielder for the Ivory Coast national team, is a temporary measure while the Federation initiates a recruitment process for a new permanent coach-selector. This change in leadership comes after the Ivory Coast’s significant defeat against Equatorial Guinea in Abidjan (0-4) on January 22. With this setback, the team is now in a position where it needs what is being termed a “miracle qualification” to be among the four best third-placed teams in the tournament.