Emerse Fae, the manager of the Ivory Coast national football team, expressed optimism following his squad’s narrow defeat to Germany on Saturday, June 20, during the second matchday of the 2026 World Cup group stage. Despite the 2–1 loss, Fae highlighted promising moments that demonstrate his team’s potential for qualification in the tournament.
The Elephants initially took the lead in the match but were unable to maintain their advantage, conceding a goal in the final moments. Reflecting on the match, Fae stated, “It was a top-class match. We opened the scoring and had our moments. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to score a second goal. This great footballing nation came back to win the match in the dying moments. We lost with honour and put in a fine performance.” He acknowledged the challenge of playing against a formidable opponent like Germany, asserting that his team’s focus now shifts to their next fixture.
Looking ahead, the Ivory Coast will face Curaçao on June 25 in their third and final group stage match, where they aim to secure a place in the next round of the tournament.