Émerse Faé and Guy Demel, the bond driving Côte d'Ivoire’s title and defence | OneFootball

Émerse Faé and Guy Demel have carried a two-decade friendship into Côte d'Ivoire’s dugout, a partnership forged in trust and complementarity that underpinned their Africa Cup of Nations triumph and now shapes a title defence.

Faé, 41, took charge in January 2024 during the home tournament after Jean-Louis Gasset resigned, and immediately asked Demel, 44, to join while he was working as a Canal+Afrique pundit. L'Équipe reports that he did so with last-16 qualification still uncertain.

The pair first bonded in the national team in 2005, sharing rooms, ideas and experiences, a relationship they frame as brotherhood and family rather than simple friendship.

Their temperaments differ, Faé more measured and solution focused, Demel more vocal and direct, a balance they believe serves the squad. On football, they are closely aligned, often anticipating each other’s thoughts, and Demel admits he had imagined coaching in youth development rather than at senior level, a route Faé had once considered too.

Their conversations now revolve around selection, choices and ideas with a crown to defend. They acknowledge bold calls and a measure of luck helped, but say luck is earned through decisions. They edged Senegal 1-1, 5-4 on penalties in the last 16 and maintain the Africa Cup of Nations is not won by chance, let alone twice in a row, leaving them ready for the ultimate test.

Source: L'Équipe