Head coach Emerse Faé insists Ivory Coast remain grounded after South Korea thrashing

In their opening fixture following a lacklustre Africa Cup of Nations 2025 tournament, the Elephants showcased an impressive display at Milton Keynes' Stadium MK.

Strikes from Evann Guessand, Simon Adingra, Martial Godo, and Wilfried Singo clinched an easy triumph, despite the South Koreans kicking off proceedings with vigour.

Even with the substantial success, Faé urged his players to maintain composure, highlighting the need for diligence and steadiness as they pursue achievements internationally.

"We are not getting carried away with this win and it is important for the team to keep working hard, even after scoring four goals and keeping a clean sheet," the 2024 CAF Coach of the Year informed Flashscore.com.

"(This result) is a positive step for the future, but what matters most is maintaining this same level of focus and concentration in every game.

"Our attention now turns to the match against Scotland on Tuesday, and after that we will step up our preparations for the FIFA World Cup. We will take things step by step."

When questioned about potential challenges in picking the lineup due to the wealth of talent in the Elephants’ roster, the 42-year-old remarked: "It was not difficult selecting the starting eleven, as the aim was to give other players a chance to prove themselves and show what they can add to the team.

"We knew South Korea had strong technical quality, especially players capable of making intelligent passes and controlling the game.

"Our aim was to disrupt that rhythm and stop them from playing through the middle. They have the ability to cause problems, but we managed the game well and limited their impact.

"They had a few moments and created some chances, but I believe we handled those situations well. In general, it was a solid performance from us and we did a good job.

"After these games, we will decide which players will make the World Cup squad."

Three of Ivory Coast’s goals were netted by forwards, including newcomer Martial Godo, who celebrated his first senior international appearance after changing his international commitment from England.

Faé expressed no astonishment at the offensive productivity, pointing out that several of his attackers had been performing well for their European clubs prior to the international period.

"While putting the squad together, we noticed all the strikers were in good form, which made selection difficult because of their quality," he continued.

"Seeing them perform like this in the first game is very positive for both confidence and healthy competition within the team.

"Everyone is pushing to earn a place in the starting lineup, and that level of competition can only improve the squad.

"We are pleased with what we have seen so far, but we must keep building on it. Our focus now is to maintain this momentum and aim for another win in our next match on Tuesday."

The ex Nantes and Nice midfielder also explained his choice to have Amad Diallo begin on the substitutes' bench, rejecting any worries regarding his condition.

The Manchester United talent entered the pitch shortly past the hour, taking over from Godo. Although he did not begin the game, he influenced proceedings by setting up Singo’s strike.

"Amad is fine, he is very good and we know his qualities and what he can bring to the team, especially after his recent performances," Faé stated.

"But we also have new players coming in, and I wanted to give them an opportunity to show what they can offer. It was simply a selection decision. With the options available, I had to choose who starts.

"It doesn’t mean Amad won’t start the next game, we are just trying to assess everyone and get the best out of the squad. The goal is to see what each player can contribute and make the right choices for the team."

The Elephants are set to encounter World Cup qualifiers Scotland on Tuesday evening at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium as they progress with their adjustments ahead of the major event.

For Steve Clarke’s squad, they seek to recover from a frustrating 1–0 loss to Japan in their last encounter.

Ivory Coast will compete against ex world champions Germany, Ecuador's national side, and newcomers Curacao when the 2026 FIFA World Cup commences in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.