Behind Oumar Diakité’s winning goal in extra time during the quarter-final of the 2023 AFCON against Mali (1-2, AET), Ivorian midfielder Seko Fofana almost didn’t make it through the match.
Emerse Faé, the coach of the Elephants who took over the team during the competition following Jean-Louis Gasset’s withdrawal (now at Olympique de Marseille), had planned to substitute the former RC Lens prodigy. On the Talents d’Afrique show, Faé recently explained that Fofana had almost threatened him not to take him off!
“As former players turned coaches, we understand the disappointment a player can feel when being substituted and expressing their discontent. We are aware that it can be difficult to accept. Seko is a competitor, he wants to stay on the field until the end, as we saw against Mali he almost threatened us with Guy (Demel, his assistant, editor’s note) not to take him off. He had reactions because he is a competitor but everything was settled,” he recounted. Emerse Faé and his assistants made the right decision.
A successful AFCON
Seko Fofana’s story in the Ivorian national team hadn’t really taken off before this triumph. Called up for the first time in 2017, the Al-Ettifaq player had only 15 caps for 6 goals before the tournament. He now totals 20 caps. While he only scored once during the tournament – the first goal of this edition – his contribution was significant in the game, as evidenced by his influence in that crazy quarter-final against Mali. A tireless worker, the former teammate of Sadio Mané at Al-Nassr shone through his physical impact in the game.
It remains to be seen whether he will continue to benefit his country as he has often been absent in recent years and recently cast doubt on his future in the national team. Will the matches against Benin (23/03) at Stade de la Licorne in Amiens and especially against Uruguay (27/03) at Bollaert, where he should receive a warm welcome, convince him to continue the adventure for at least a little longer?
