Ivory Coast’s interim coach, Emerse Fae, has emphasised the team’s commitment ahead of their crucial Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash against reigning champions Senegal.

Fae, acknowledging their unexpected qualification, expressed, “God has given us a second chance, so now we have an obligation to give our everything.” Following the dismissal of Jean-Louis Gasset post a humiliating 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea, Fae, a former teammate of Didier Drogba, stepped in as an emergency appointment.

Reflecting on the challenging days after the defeat, he mentioned, “We needed to let the wounds of the 4-0 defeat heal and then pray that we would qualify.” The Ivorian team faced uncertainty even after qualifying, as attempts to bring in Herve Renard were thwarted.

Fae, undeterred, stated, “I had other things to worry about than whether Peter, Paul, or James was going to come and take my place.” Senegal, despite a flawless group stage, brushed off their achievements, with coach Aliou Cisse noting, “The group stage is finished. A new competition is starting now.”

In the face of adversity, Ivory Coast’s players aim to showcase a different attitude, recognising the significance of their second chance on Monday against Senegal. They would want to give the home fans something to cheer on Monday night.