The Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire have reached the semi-finals of the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), being held on home soil. The Ivorian team has experienced a rollercoaster of emotions to reach this stage of the competition. Under the guidance of French coach Jean-Louis Gasset, the Elephants made an impressive start with a victory in the opening match against Guinea-Bissau on January 13. However, the Elephants then stumbled against Nigeria, needing a win to secure their place in the Round of 16 but instead facing a disappointing defeat, marking the beginning of their descent into “hell.”
Humiliation Against Equatorial Guinea
In their heroic journey, one particularly stinging defeat was against Equatorial Guinea. The Nzalang Nacional crushed the Ivorians 4-0 in front of a heartbroken Ivorian crowd. Everyone anticipated the impending fallout, with Ivorians feeling the humiliation deeply. Following the match, furious Ivorian supporters called for the resignation of not only the coach but also the president of the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF).
Changes in the Elephants’ Coaching Staff
Côte d'Ivoire ended up as the best third-placed team in Group A, qualifying for the Round of 16 of the 2023 AFCON. Before this qualification, FIF, led by Idriss Yacine Diallo, dismissed Jean-Louis Gasset and replaced him with Emerse Faé, assisted by Guy Demel. The new coach faced a daunting task. As the best third-placed team, the Elephants were set to face Senegal, the defending champions. The players knew this was their chance for a comeback. The coach urged his team to push their limits, likely with the mindset that they had nothing left to lose.
The Miracle in Yamoussoukro, the Home of Houphouët-Boigny
Emerse Faé was under pressure to make the right player selections, especially for the starting eleven. In the match against Senegal, Faé and his team displayed a new mentality and surprising combativeness, with Odilon Kossounou proving his worth as a starter. Senegal scored first in the 4th minute, but the Elephants fought hard to equalize.
Faé’s Tactical Genius Pays Off
Seeing his team struggle to score, coach Emerse Faé made some crucial substitutions, bringing on Sébastien Haller, Nicolas Pepe, and Franck Kessié. These tactical changes made the team more offensive. The Elephants, with these fresh players, increased the pressure on the Lions of Teranga. In the final minutes of injury time, a pass from Sébastien Haller into the Senegalese penalty area found Nicolas Pepe, who made a move and was brought down by Edouard Mendy. Franck Kessié converted the undeniable penalty, marking the beginning of the miracle.
After extra time, the Elephants miraculously eliminated the defending champions. From then on, the rejuvenated team regained their confidence.
Emerse Faé’s Tactical Brilliance
As with the match against Senegal, Emerse Faé excelled in his player choices. Despite playing with 10 men against 11 Malians, Faé and his assistants read the game well. With Haller upfront, a tenacious Oumar Diakité, and the introduction of Simon Adingra, Faé adapted his tactics, knowing that the midfield battle was lost against Mali’s dominant players. He instructed the goalkeeper to use long balls to Haller, who alone occupied three Malian defenders. The result was a 2-1 victory for the revived, now unbeatable Elephants.
