COTE D’IVOIRE d’Ivoire head coach Emerse Fae has described the hosts advancing to the AFCON 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final as feeling ‘like a dream’ as he plans to ‘analyse’ the Super Eagles of Nigeria before the title showdown.
The two West African giants will clash in Sunday’s final in Abijdan after the Elephants saw off Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 and the Super Eagles overcame South Africa’s Bafana Bafana 4-2 on penalties in last night’s semi-finals.
The Elephants were on the brink of elimination in the group phase after losing to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, but results elsewhere helped them squeeze through as one of the best third-placed teams to advance to the round of 16.
After three straight knockout wins against 2021 champions Senegal, Mali and DR Congo, the Elephants have made an unlikely run to the final against the Super Eagles.
Fae, who was appointed head coach mid-tournament after Jean-Louis Gasset’s sacking, admits that it is yet to fully sink in that his side progressed to the final.
“I am very happy, very moved, it’s like a dream,” the former Ivorian international said after last night’s victory over DR Congo.
“I told the players: you are 27 players and I count on everyone
“If we want to win this competition, we will win it with all 27…I’ve been telling the players that everyone is important, including those in the stands, and they understood the message.”
Now the Super Eagles stand in Cote d’Ivoire’s path to a third AFCON trophy, and Fae says he will find a way to beat the three-time African champions on Sunday at the Alassane Outtara Stadium in Abijdan.
“We will take stock in the next two days, we will analyse Nigeria, even though we played them in the group stage, we will see the strategy to implement for the final,” Fae noted.
