Wilfried Zaha: Ivory Coast Coach Emerse Fae Meets Galatasaray Star Over National Team Return

• Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae has visited Galatasaray winger Wilfried Zaha
• The English-born forward is expected to return to the national team in June
• Zaha missed the Nations Cup on home soil after failing to make the squad

Ivory Coast coach, Emerse Fae, travelled to Turkey to meet winger Wilfried Zaha ahead of a potential return to the national team.

Fae, who led the Elephants to Africa Cup of Nations triumph on home soil, is currently on a European tour to scout players for the Ivory Coast ahead of June's World Cup qualifiers.

Part of his activities in Europe is to bring back players who missed the 2023 Nations Cup, with Zaha being a key to his plans.

The Galatasaray star conspicuously missed the Africa Cup of Nations after he was left out of the squad by sacked manager Jean-Louis Gasset.

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In photos shared on social media, Fae and his assistant Guy Demel spent time with the ex-Crystal Palace forward as they shared their vision for the team, which includes qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

The Ivorian trainer is also hoping to qualify for AFCON 2025 in Morocco, where he gets to defend the title.

Fae led the African champions during the international break in friendlies against Benin and Uruguay. Ivory Coast drew 2-2 with Benin before beating the South Americans 2-1 four days later, per ESPN.

The three-time AFCON winners will face Gabon and Kenya when the World Cup qualifiers return in June.

Fae opens up on being African champions

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Ivory Coast coach, Emerse Fae disclosed the challenges of facing teams as African champions following his side's draw against Benin in a friendly in France.

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Fae led the Elephants to Africa Cup of Nations success after taking over as interim coach from the Round of 16 of the competition hosted on home soil.

He was made substantive coach after the tournament and played his first game since winning AFCON on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

Fae appointed Ivory Coast coach

Sports Brief also reported that Emerse Fae was named coach of Ivory Coast after leading the Elephants to Africa Cup of Nations success.

The former Ivory Coast player took over from French tactician Jean-Louis Gasset as an interim following the heavy defeat to Equatorial Guinea at AFCON 2023.