Ivory Coast boss Fae laments lack of fair play in loss to Germany
The head coach of the Ivory Coast, Emerse Fae has lamented a lack of fair play exhibited by players of the German national team during a World Cup Group E encounter played at the Toronto Stadium on Saturday.
While speaking in a post match press conference following his team’s 2-1 defeat, Fae decried the decision by German left back, Nathaniel Brown not to give the ball back to Ivory Coast defender Wilfred Singho who put the ball out because he was injured and instead he (Brown) launched a dangerous German attack with a throw-in.
“I told him [Brown] to stay humble,” Faé told reporters after the game. “He had a great game, and he doesn’t need to talk badly to us because he is losing or at 1-1 because he wants to win.
“We would have liked more fair play from Germany. We would have liked them to give us the ball back when Singo got injured. They are a great football nation, and we take example from them, so I was disappointed by their lack of fair play.”
According to Fae, both teams deserved to win and had the chance to win the game but Germany emerged victorious because of their experience.
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He said; “Both teams deserved to win and had the chances to win the game,” Faé said. “Well done to Germany. They won the game because of their experience. We had a great game, and I am really proud of how my players play against one of the favourites of the competition. We have to use this defeat for the rest of the tournament.
Ivory Coast shocked Germany by taking the lead in the 30th minute when Franck Kessié slotted home a rebound after a brilliant run and low cross from Yan Diomande.
The German team which had two first-half goals disallowed due to fouls equalized in the 66th minute of the game when super sub Deniz Undav volleyed home a cross from fellow sub Nadiem Amiri to level scores.
Germany grabbed all three points at stake deep into stoppage time (90+4′), when Undav struck again on the swivel from a Felix Nmecha pass, to secure a dramatic comeback victory.
Both teams will play their last World Cup group games on Thursday, June 25, 2026, with Germany battling Ecuador while Ivory Coast will lock horns with Curacao.
