Emerse Fae is drawing on personal heartbreak from 2006 to ensure his defending champions do not underestimate a resilient Egyptian side in their upcoming AFCON quarterfinal.
Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Fae has issued a stern warning to his squad ahead of Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal against Egypt.
Recalling the 2006 final where he suffered a penalty shootout defeat as a player, the 41-year-old cautioned against complacency.
Fae noted that the current Egyptian side mirrors the resilient teams of the past, stating, “This is exactly the Egypt I expected… that looks like it’s about to crack, but almost never does.”
The defending champions enter the match following a dominant 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso, highlighted by a standout performance from Manchester United’s Amad Diallo.
In contrast, Egypt required extra time to dispatch Benin. Despite their recent struggles, Fae emphasized that the seven-time champions remain master tacticians in knockout football.
He observed: “Egypt absorbs pressure; they don’t control [games]. It’s about disrupting the opponent and, whenever they get a chance, punishing them.”
The tactical battle will pit the Elephants’ momentum against an Egyptian attack featuring superstars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.
Fae insisted that mental discipline is the only way to overcome the North African giants, who have reached two of the last four finals.
He concluded with a final warning regarding the opponent’s clinical nature: “You should never be overconfident against Egypt. If you arrive overconfident, you have no chance.”