Côte d'Ivoire Coach Faé Warns Against Underestimating Curaçao for the 2026 World Cup

Côte d’Ivoire head coach Emerse Faé has cautioned his squad not to underestimate Curaçao before their important FIFA World Cup match, Completesports.com reports.

The Elephants will be aiming to secure a place in the Round of 32 when they face the World Cup debutants on Thursday night.

Faé’s side opened their campaign with a hard‑fought 1‑0 victory over Ecuador before suffering a narrow 2‑1 defeat to Germany in their second group game.

Despite that setback, the former African champions remain in control of their qualification hopes, with a positive result against Curaçao enough to ensure progression to the knockout stage.

No Room For Complacency

Speaking before the encounter, Faé stressed the importance of respecting their opponents, insisting his players cannot afford to take the newcomers lightly.

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“The key is our ability to show the same seriousness, the same mindset, the same intensity that we showed against Ecuador and against Germany. I think that if we respect our opponent tomorrow and perform well in the different areas we just mentioned, we will have a chance to qualify for the round of 16,” Faé told reporters.

Faé Expects Difficult Test

Faé is preparing for a stern test against Curaçao despite their status as underdogs.

The World Cup debutants remain firmly in the race for a place in the Round of 32 after holding Ecuador to a goalless draw in their second group game, a result that underlined their resilience and organization.

“What do I think of this team? They showed it against Ecuador. After a defeat against Germany, they managed to find the mental strength to draw against Ecuador. They are a team that plays with a lot of aggression,” added Faé.

“They have attackers who are also capable of making a difference individually. They play with a lot of solidarity. We expect a difficult match tomorrow, like all World Cup matches.”