Cote d’Ivoire fans celebrated their team’s qualification for the African Cup of Nations round of 16 and coach
Emerse Fae said the Elephants must prove their 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea was an accident.
Cote d’Ivoire will lock horns with defending champions Senegal on Monday at the Yamoussooukro and it would be a test of how much the Ivorians have regained their composure and confidence after the dismal group A performance.
“We are pleased with the round of 16 advance. Things have been difficult since Monday.
“We have been holding our breath,” Fae told broadcaster Canal Plus Afrique after their qualification was confirmed.
“We were disappointed with our own result and we were also scared that we might not qualify at our own AFCON.
“This is a relief. It lifts a weight off our shoulders but now we need to quickly turn our focus to the match against Senegal.
“We owe the people of Ivory Coast and we have to show them that the result against Equatorial Guinea was an accident.”
Fae who alongside Didier Drogba played in the 2019 final against Egypt replaced Jean-Louis Gasset who sacked after the Equatorial Guinea defeat.
