Head coach Emerse Fae has voiced his belief that Ivory Coast are capable of holding their own against Germany at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Elephants are set to open their campaign against Ecuador before taking on the four-time world champions in their second group match at Toronto’s BMO Field, as they look to progress deep into the tournament.

The two sides have only faced each other once at senior level, when Lukas Podolski scored twice in a 2-2 friendly draw between the European and African teams in Stuttgart on November 18, 2009.

Encouraged by impressive victories over South Korea and Scotland in March, the former CAF Coach of the Year feels his team is peaking at the right moment.

In an interview with Flashscore, Fae stressed that the African champions will not adopt a defensive mindset against Germany, instead urging his players to approach the game with confidence and belief.

“As for our approach, I don’t want the team to sit back and play too cautiously,” the 42-year-old explained.

“That’s not my philosophy. I’m not afraid of any opponent, including Germany. I want us to play with confidence, push forward, and try to score goals rather than just defend and rely on counter-attacks.”

Germany, meanwhile, come into the tournament in strong form, having won their last seven matches across all competitions under Julian Nagelsmann.

Fae reflects on lessons from South Korea and Scotland matches

Ahead of the March international friendlies in England, Emerse Fae and his squad faced significant criticism following a disappointing campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

However, the Elephants responded positively with strong displays against World Cup-bound opponents, showing a blend of attacking sharpness and improved defensive organization.

Looking back on those matches, Fae said the primary goal was to establish a better balance between defence and attack. He also acknowledged that finalizing his World Cup squad will be a challenging task, given the number of players who have made strong claims for inclusion.

“The key lesson from the two matches is that we can be strong both defensively and in attack,” he explained.

“During the World Cup qualifiers, we were solid defensively but struggled to score goals. At AFCON in Morocco, we found it easier to score, but we conceded too many.

“So, our objective in these games was to achieve balance—being just as strong defensively as we are going forward—and we’ve managed to do that.

“Team spirit plays a major role, and once again it was excellent. Winning these two matches boosts confidence, but it also makes selection more difficult, as many players have shown they deserve a place in the 26-man World Cup squad.”

Fae further added: “We now have a strong squad. In the last two games, we kept two clean sheets, which is very important for us.

“After AFCON, I felt we were scoring goals but also conceding too many, so improving defensively was crucial—and I’m very pleased with the team’s response.

“Many players deserve to be at the World Cup, but we can only select 26, which makes it a difficult decision for the technical staff.

“However, it’s a positive challenge. It’s better to have an abundance of quality than to struggle to find players. It shows the depth and strength within the squad.”

Fae: Kessie’s experience crucial for Ivory Coast

Head coach Emerse Fae has defended his continued reliance on Franck Kessie, emphasizing that the midfielder’s experience is a key asset for the Ivory Coast national team.

Some critics have questioned the coach’s trust in the former Franck Kessie, particularly raising concerns about his pace. However, the former Nice and Nantes star insists that Kessie’s contribution goes far beyond physical attributes, highlighting his importance as both a senior player and a leader within the squad. Kessie, now with Al Ahli, remains a central figure for the team.

“Of course, experience is important. When a player is 29 or 30, that shouldn’t be seen as a problem,” Fae said.

“You can’t win the World Cup with only young players—it’s impossible. If you look at top teams like France or Brazil, they always have a blend of youth and experience. So, I don’t understand why age should be an issue.”

When discussing Ivory Coast’s ambitions for the global tournament, Fae expressed belief in his team’s potential:

“I’ve believed for some time, especially after what we saw in Ivory Coast during AFCON 2023, that African teams need to have more self-belief because they have the quality to achieve great things.

“I think Ivory Coast has the potential to do something special. We will approach the tournament aiming to win every match, taking it one game at a time, and pushing as far as possible. Why not aim for the final?”

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Ivory Coast national team will also face two-time world champions France national football team in an international friendly on June 4 in Nantes.