By OkayGoal 
Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Fae has declared that the Elephants will go all out for victory against Germany as they look to secure an early place in the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The three-time African champions head into their second Group E fixture brimming with confidence following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their tournament opener. The result placed Ivory Coast in a strong position in the group and boosted belief within the squad ahead of one of their toughest tests of the competition.
Despite acknowledging Germany’s pedigree and experience on the world stage, Fae insists his side has not travelled to North America merely to participate and is fully focused on causing another major upset.
Ivory Coast’s victory over Ecuador provided the perfect start to their World Cup campaign and reinforced the growing confidence surrounding a team that has steadily developed into one of Africa’s strongest sides.
The Elephants displayed resilience, discipline and determination in their opening match, qualities that Fae believes can help them compete against any team in the tournament.
Speaking ahead of the clash, the Ivorian tactician reiterated the ambitions of his squad and made it clear that qualification for the next round remains a primary objective.
“We didn’t come here to visit the United States and go home. We beat France and we’ve made a good start to this tournament against Ecuador, a very tough side.
“The next match against Germany? It will be a difficult match. Germany have a wealth of experience. But we’ll go out to challenge them, win and secure our qualification.”
Germany enter the encounter as one of the favourites in Group E after beginning their campaign with an emphatic victory over Curacao.
The four-time world champions possess a squad packed with quality and tournament experience, making them one of the most formidable opponents Ivory Coast will face in the group stage.
However, Fae’s comments underline the belief currently running through the Ivorian camp. Rather than approaching the match cautiously, the Elephants appear determined to take the game to Germany and prove they belong among the elite nations competing at the World Cup.
A victory against Germany would virtually guarantee Ivory Coast a place in the knockout rounds and establish them as one of the surprise packages of the tournament.
It would also represent one of the most significant World Cup victories in the country’s history and further strengthen the growing reputation of this talented generation of players.
With a final group-stage fixture against Curacao still to come, the Elephants know a positive result against Germany could allow them to approach their last match with considerably less pressure.
There is a growing sense that this Ivory Coast side is capable of achieving something special at the World Cup.
Led by Fae and inspired by match-winner Amad Diallo, the Elephants have already demonstrated their ability to compete at the highest level.
Now they face their biggest challenge yet. Germany may possess greater experience and pedigree, but Ivory Coast have made it clear they are not intimidated.
As Fae’s message suggests, the Elephants are not in North America for a brief appearance. They are chasing history, and a victory over Germany would be another major step towards turning that ambition into reality.